Did JCC Really Ruin Meldrick Taylor ?

[Thread Stealer]

The loss to Chavez in 1990 took something out of Taylor, but it didn't completely ruin him as a formidable fighter. He still was good enough to move up in weight a year later and beat undefeated WBA champ Aaron Davis.

Really, I don't see the loss to Chavez affecting Taylor's career that much in terms of longevity and success. What happens if ends up winning the fight? He still has problems making 140 (Taylor detailed them in an issue of Sports Illustrated after the Davis fight, I recommend doing a sivault search as it was a good read), and judging by his stocky frame, it's not hard to picture. He did make 140 years later to rematch Chavez, but that was probably a desperate attempt to get a big fight/payday and revenge and he was more suited for WW at that point.

While Taylor's frame had grown to a welterweight, his power didn't. Neither did his height or arm length. Welterweight was loaded then, or about to become loaded. Stable Pernell Whitaker was about to go to WW. Felix Trinidad became a champion in 1993. Ike Quartey rose to the scene a year later. Cristano Espana always would've given Taylor hell due to his style, and dimensions (or Taylor's lackthereof). Taylor was too brawl-happy for his own good and took too many shots. Not only in prize fights, but does anyone NOT picture Taylor being a Philly gym war kind of guy?

Team Taylor was obviously not the type to protect Taylor. They had a young Taylor fight Buddy McGirt, and Chavez, who had a gigantic edge in experience on TNT. Taylor would've gotten beaten, and most likely beaten up, sooner or later at WW, win or lose against Chavez, or even without a Chavez fight. I also think Team Taylor shamelessly cashed out on Taylor in 1992 following the win over Glenwood Brown. Taylor had already showed signs of decline, and being too devoid of size and power at welterweight. He showed mettle in rising from 2 KDs to beat Brown, but what about the way he reacted to a lot of those shots? Not exactly what you'd hope for. So then they have him go up AGAIN in weight, at 150.5, to fight Terry Norris?

I've always taken issue with Lou Duva, not only for giving those instructions before round 12 against Chavez, but for taking that fight with Norris.

[Master]

JCC did ruin him, Taylor edged Davis who had just come off a war against Breland and the real beat put him down twice, so the righting was on the wall. Moving him up to get crucified by Norris did not help. Also remember Crisanto Espana finishing him off later after Chavez. That is a lot of wars. Taylor was the fastest fighter i ever saw.