Did JCC Really Ruin Meldrick Taylor ?

[Spicoli]

The gym wars are of the ages but Philly producing only brawlers void of slickness is bit of a over repeated stereo type yeh. Along the lines of fighters from Mexico being tremendous body punchers who couldn't box etc. Harold Johnson, Jeff Chandler as slick as they came. Chandler was one of the best fighters in divisions history. Saad was a capable boxer gone brawler who had great deal of huge fight nights I'd say. And don't even dis zahir Raheem like that

[Jody Lane]

I mean JCC obviously shortened his career with that beating, but i don't think he was totally ruined straight after that fight like everyone makes out. He had a very good performance against Aaron Davis, who was fresh off KO'ing Mark Breland in a great fight.

He also beat a good underrated fighter in Glenwood Brown, who at that time was known as a pretty respectful hitter. He floored Meldrick Taylor twice, but Meldrick Taylor fought back hard winning a majority of the rounds in a good performance.

It seems like to me that when he met the bigger/stronger Terry Norris, it all went down from there. And Terry Norris basically finished him as an elite fighter, because he looked bad vs Crisanto Epsana straight after the Terry Norris fight. And never beat anyone worth noting again.

But whats your thoughts ?

I think some fighters are destined for long careers and some are not. I think it is a toughness deal. Guys like Duran are destined to fight til they are almost 50 and some due to their assets should be gone by the time they are 30 (i.e. they rely on speed and reflexes). Taylor was one destined to quit early.