And it was truly sad to see a true living legend struggling to get words out of his mouth to form coherent sentences.
Unfortunately, those of us that have chose the path of boxing must understand that there is a high risk and a strong possibility of brain damage. Not only have I boxed for most of my life, and now, also training others to box, I am also a very big boxing nerd. I keep up with boxing and its history as much as anyone. The tough part about doing this is that often, I have to see some of the strongest, toughest, and sometimes most intelligent men, end their lives with, what they call "dementia pugilistica", to keep from saying its actual name, which is basically brain damage from boxing.
Muhammad Ali is an example of the tragedy this sport can bring. Jerry Quarry was another tragic example. Joe Frazier, Joe Louis, Floyd Patterson, etc, etc. I could go on and on.
But this is not always the case. George Foreman has been hit with some of the hardest punches, spanning across 4 decades (1960's, 70's, 80's & the 1990's), but still has all his wits about him.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. (as much as he sounds like an idiot) must be doing something right, and pretty intelligent. In 2012, without any income from endorsements, he made $85,000,000, and only fought 1 fight. ONE! He earned 85 Million Dollars in less than one hour. And, it's estimated that he will earn even more this year [$90 Million (http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/...
But I digress.
Meldrick Taylor is continuing to experience worsening issues with his speech. However, in 2009, he wrote a book, or an autobiography, called "Two Seconds From Glory". The book is, obviously, about his Title Bout against Julio Cesar Chavez, and the controversy that surrounded it due to Richard Steele's (the ref) decision to stop the bout with 2 seconds to go in the bout, after Taylor had been decisively winning, giving the bout to Chavez. But he also gets very descriptive about his feelings toward the "part of boxing that you don't see", referring to his feeling that boxing "has lost all perspective and is driven by only corruption, and greed".
I'm sure he had someone help him write the book. I'm not stupid in thinking that he grabbed a computer and typed out a novel. But, my point is that while he may sound very bad, he still has clear and coherent thoughts. He simply has a speech problem, and has trouble voicing his thoughts. But the book is very descriptive and very clear concerning the thoughts and feelings of Meldrick Taylor, somewhat proving that he is not "brain dead".
Yeah that is one of my favorite boxing documentaries ever. It was so real and sad like you mentioned. I don't blame Richard Steele at all. One punch and literally kill you in fighting. Taylor had obviously taken a punishment and if Chavez had landed one more solid blow it could have very possibly detached his brain or caused other serious damages. But then on the flip side, had he given him the 2 seconds and he did win, maybe Taylor never gets the brain damage he has now from fighting all those extra fights trying to prove himself. Although many viewers were really disturbed by this airing of Meldrick I believe he was on TV again much later to promote his book "2 seconds from glory." Now-a-days I think Meldrick is actually doing ok, he is a minister back in his hometown. Hopefully, he has come to terms with that loss, and some of his inner demons. He was a great fighter. Did you see his speed? Wheww
I have some very good pictures from the night of that fight, as I watched it live at the Las Vegas Hilton back in 1990. It was a time capsule-type of fight. Years have gone by, of course, and I still think of the war that was waged inside the ring that night. I guess the best way to summarize Richard Steele's decision was to say that he did the WRONG thing for the RIGHT reason. There's no way Chavez would have been able to walk across the ring and deliver another shot, so Taylor was robbed in a sense. However, I distinctly recall Loud Duva crawl onto the ring apron and into the ring while Taylor was receiving his standing eight count. That'a an automatic disqualification, so either way Taylor would have lost. Taylor got his rematch and lost--albeit 4.5 years later and well past his prime. Was he denied his moment in history by Richard Steele. I would say he was denied, but it was Lou Duva who is the main culprit. Even in the HBO Documentary, Duva flat out lies during the interview by saying that he instructed Taylor to move and box in the last round, when, in reality, he told Taylor that "...we need this round, Mel!!!!" Duva is to blame, not Steele. One of my most treasured moments was sitting there for that fight. Will never forget it.
Brain injury such as what Taylor showed in the documentary is pretty much degenerative, so odds are not in Meldrick's favor, but that was the last I heard of him. I know a few years earlier he got arrested for assaulting a woman but I don't know if he was convicted or not, I never followed the story and shortly there after he became a preacher. I watched the first Chavez/Taylor fight live, it was one of boxing's true gem's. Steele's stoppage was in my opinion correct, Taylor won every round, but paid one of the heaviest prices in history to that to the 12th and when he went down, then failed to correctly respond to Steele after the knock down, Steele did the right thing as gut wrenching as it was for Taylor and Duva. Taylor's condition at the time of the documentary re-affirms Steele's stoppage but you have to admit Taylor won every round of the first Chavez fight, even the one he got KOed in, damn shame how Taylor ended up.
years later taylor and chavez had a rematch and chavez won that one by ko
There is NO WAY IN HELL Steele should have stopped that fight. NO WAY IN HELL. 2 seconds left in the final round??? That is a goddamn joke.
Until yesterday,although i'd heard about it many times before,i'd never really payed much attention to this fight.
i decided to watch 2003 Chavez/Taylor Legendary Nights documentary when someone posted a clip of it here the other day.i'v got to admit that the way the fight ended along with the interview he gave at the end, is one of the saddest things i have ever seen.
i don't think you can blame richard steele for not knowing there was only 2 seconds left but why didn't he realise that taylor had been distracted by his trainer?it's just such a shame cus taylor earnt the win.i'm 99% sure he could have continued.
is that the last time Meldrick Taylor appeared on television or in public?how is his condition?
