Meldrick Taylor was born in the famous boxing town of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He began boxing at a very Young age and eventually achieved a 99-4 record as an amateur fighter. At the age of 17 he became the youngest boxer to earn the Olympic gold medal, which he claimed in the lightweight division. Shortly after his medal, he turned pro.
Taylor fought several journeymen in '84 but in October 1985, he won the decision against Harold Brazier. This fight gave him a spot in the World Rankings. On September 3, 1988, Taylor TKO'd "Buddy" McGirt for the IBF light-welterweight title.
Taylor beat his next five opponents, which led him to the unification fight with Julio Cesar Chavez, the light welterweight champion. Taylor (24-0-1) and Chavez(68-0) were regarded as two of the best boxers in the world. The end of their fight became one of the most controversial moments in boxing history.
Taylor was winning most of the early rounds with his speed and combinations However, Chávez's power began wearing Taylor down as the later rounds approached. Going into and final round, Taylor was ahead on the scorecards. Chavez was aware of this and began fighting harder as though he wanted to knock Taylor out. With his famous right hook, Chavez sent Taylor to the canvas with only 13 seconds left in the fight. Taylor got back to his feet before referee Richard Steele finished the 10-count. Steele asked Taylor if he was okay twice, but instead of answering he looked over to his corner. Steele waved the fight off with just two seconds left, giving Chavez the TKO victory.
The controversy at the end of that bout discouraged Taylor immensely but he continued to fight. Because he felt that making 140-pound weight had drained him against Chavez, he moved up to full welterweight and fought and beat undefeated Aaron Davis for the WBA welterweight title on January 19, 1991.
After winning three more bouts, Taylor moved up again to light-middleweight and faced champion Terry Norris for Norris' WBC title. Norris being naturally bigger and stronger at this weight class, knocked Taylor out in the fourth round.
After his loss to Norris, Taylor began to diminish. He lost his next fight and Title to Crisanto Espana in 1992 and lost his second title fight to Chavez in 1994.
He continued to fight over the next 8 years passed his prime winning some of his fights but not against top contenders. He retired in 2002. In 2009, he wrote his Autobiography entitled "Two Seconds From Glory" in which he recalls the memories of the night he lost his first fight to Chavez. He also shares accounts of his professional career, other bouts, and Olympic experience.
Taylor's Boxing Record- 1984-2002:
1984 Nov. 15-Luke Lecce TKO1
1985 Jan. 20-Dwight Pratchett W6 Atlantic City
Mar. 13-Darren Curtis TKO3 Norfolk, VA
Taylor fought several journeymen in '84 but in October 1985, he won the decision against Harold Brazier. This fight gave him a spot in the World Rankings. On September 3, 1988, Taylor TKO'd "Buddy" McGirt for the IBF light-welterweight title.
Taylor beat his next five opponents, which led him to the unification fight with Julio Cesar Chavez, the light welterweight champion. Taylor (24-0-1) and Chavez(68-0) were regarded as two of the best boxers in the world. The end of their fight became one of the most controversial moments in boxing history.
Taylor was winning most of the early rounds with his speed and combinations However, Chávez's power began wearing Taylor down as the later rounds approached. Going into and final round, Taylor was ahead on the scorecards. Chavez was aware of this and began fighting harder as though he wanted to knock Taylor out. With his famous right hook, Chavez sent Taylor to the canvas with only 13 seconds left in the fight. Taylor got back to his feet before referee Richard Steele finished the 10-count. Steele asked Taylor if he was okay twice, but instead of answering he looked over to his corner. Steele waved the fight off with just two seconds left, giving Chavez the TKO victory.
The controversy at the end of that bout discouraged Taylor immensely but he continued to fight. Because he felt that making 140-pound weight had drained him against Chavez, he moved up to full welterweight and fought and beat undefeated Aaron Davis for the WBA welterweight title on January 19, 1991.
After winning three more bouts, Taylor moved up again to light-middleweight and faced champion Terry Norris for Norris' WBC title. Norris being naturally bigger and stronger at this weight class, knocked Taylor out in the fourth round.
After his loss to Norris, Taylor began to diminish. He lost his next fight and Title to Crisanto Espana in 1992 and lost his second title fight to Chavez in 1994.
He continued to fight over the next 8 years passed his prime winning some of his fights but not against top contenders. He retired in 2002. In 2009, he wrote his Autobiography entitled "Two Seconds From Glory" in which he recalls the memories of the night he lost his first fight to Chavez. He also shares accounts of his professional career, other bouts, and Olympic experience.
Taylor's Boxing Record- 1984-2002:
1984 Nov. 15-Luke Lecce TKO1
1985 Jan. 20-Dwight Pratchett W6 Atlantic City
Mar. 13-Darren Curtis TKO3 Norfolk, VA
Apr. 6-Elias Martinez TKO5 San Angelo, TX
May 17-Nery Reyes KO2 Stateline, NV
May 17-Nery Reyes KO2 Stateline, NV
Jun. 29-Hugo Carrizo TKO3 Bellaria, Italy
Jul. 20-Roberto Medina W6 Norfolk, VA
Oct. 16-Carlos Santana TKO4 Atlantic City
Dec. 21-Victor Acosta W8 Virginia Beach 1986
Dec. 21-Victor Acosta W8 Virginia Beach 1986
Feb. 3-Robin Blake W10 Lake Charles, LA
Apr. 3-Jose Rivera TKO6 New York
May 11-Harold Brazier W10 Corpus Christi
Aug. 16-Howard Davis, Jr. D10 Atlantic City
Dec. 11-Danny Vargas KO2 New York 1987
Apr. 3-Jose Rivera TKO6 New York
May 11-Harold Brazier W10 Corpus Christi
Aug. 16-Howard Davis, Jr. D10 Atlantic City
Dec. 11-Danny Vargas KO2 New York 1987
Feb. 6-Roque Montoya W10 Atlantic City
Apr. 19-Primo Ramos W10 Phoenix
Jul. 11-Cubanito Perez W10 Atlantic City
Apr. 19-Primo Ramos W10 Phoenix
Jul. 11-Cubanito Perez W10 Atlantic City
Nov. 4-Richard Fowler TKO2 Corpus Christi
1988 Apr. 9-Ivan Gonzalez KO5 Las Vegas
Jun. 12- Martin Quiroz W10 Villa Park, IL
1988 Apr. 9-Ivan Gonzalez KO5 Las Vegas
Jun. 12- Martin Quiroz W10 Villa Park, IL
Sep. 3-James Buddy McGirt TKO12 Atlantic City-Won IBF 140 Title
1989 Jan. 21-John Meekins TKO7 Atlantic City-IBF 140 Title Defense
1989 Jan. 21-John Meekins TKO7 Atlantic City-IBF 140 Title Defense
Sep. 11-Courtney Hooper W12 Atlantic City-IBF 140 Title Defense
Nov. 20-Jaime Balboa TKO5 Philadelphia 1990
Nov. 20-Jaime Balboa TKO5 Philadelphia 1990
Jan. 27-Ramon Flores TKO1 Atlantic City
Mar. 17-Julio Cesar Chavez TKO'd 12 Las Vegas-Lost IBF 140 Title
Aug. 11-Primo Ramos W10 Tahoe, NV 1991
Jan. 19-Aaron Davis W12 Atlantic City-Won WBA 147 Title
Jun. 1-Luis Garcia W12 Palm Springs, CA WBA 147 Title Defense
Sep. 13-Ernie Chavez TKO6 Sacramento 1992
Jun. 1-Luis Garcia W12 Palm Springs, CA WBA 147 Title Defense
Sep. 13-Ernie Chavez TKO6 Sacramento 1992
Jan. 18-Glenwood Brown W12 Philadelphia-WBA 147 Title Defense
May 9-Terry Norris TKO'd 4 Las Vegas For WBC 154 Title
Oct. 31-Crisanto Espana TKO'd 8 London Lost WBA 147 Title
1993 May 8-Henry Hughes TKO2 Las Vegas
1994 Jan. 29-Craig Houk KO3 Las Vegas
Oct. 31-Crisanto Espana TKO'd 8 London Lost WBA 147 Title
1993 May 8-Henry Hughes TKO2 Las Vegas
1994 Jan. 29-Craig Houk KO3 Las Vegas
May 7-Chad Broussard KO2 Las Vegas
Sep. 17-Julio Cesar Chavez TKO'd 8 Las Vegas-For WBC 140 Title
1996 Aug.16-Kenneth Kidd TKO1 Altoona, PA
Oct. 10-Tommy Small W10 Washington
1996 Aug.16-Kenneth Kidd TKO1 Altoona, PA
Oct. 10-Tommy Small W10 Washington
Nov. 26-Darren Maciunski L10
1998 Aug. 6-Rafael Salas W6 Chicago
1998 Aug. 6-Rafael Salas W6 Chicago
Aug. 28-Hasan Al L10 Aarhus, Denmark 1999
Feb. 26-Kirino Garcia L12 Juarez, Mexico
Aug. 26-Tim Scott TKO3 Atlanta
Sep. 10-Manuel DeLeon W8 Ocala, FL 2002
Aug. 26-Tim Scott TKO3 Atlanta
Sep. 10-Manuel DeLeon W8 Ocala, FL 2002
May 31 Dillon Carew W8 Birmingham, AL
Jul. 20-Wayne Martell L10 Mahnomen, MN
Jul. 20-Wayne Martell L10 Mahnomen, MN
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