Taylor gets shot at belt vs. Froch

BY CHRIS GIVENS
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE, February 4, 2009

Taylor�s team considering possibilities for next fight

BY CHRIS GIVENS
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE, January 17, 2009

Taylor jockeying to fight Calzaghe

BY CHRIS GIVENS
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE, November 17, 2008

It�s unanimous: Taylor�s back

BY CHRIS GIVENS
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE, November 16, 2008

October 3, 2008
Taylor - Lacy - Nashville

BY CHRIS GIVENS
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

Taylor - Lacy - Nashville

BY CHRIS GIVENS
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

TAYLOR-LACY IS A GO !!
JT'S FIRST FIGHT AT 168 IS SET FOR NOVEMBER 15TH , SITE TBD ...

BY CHRIS GIVENS
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

"A MESSAGE FOR MY FANS"

THE BRICKLAYER'S 'SON'

Ozell Nelson was a bricklayer training kids in his spare time at a small gas station converted into a gym. Jermain Taylor was a gangly, 14-year-old kid. Nelson figured Taylor would quit as soon as he got hit hard, like so many other kids. But Taylor took his beatings and came back for more. In the process, a very special relationship was born.

by Nat Gottlieb

It says much about Ozell Nelson that the first thing the bricklayer did for Jermain Taylor was lay a foundation for him to become a man, not just a boxer. It is hard to tell which was harder, making Taylor into a man of the world or a champion of the world.

"When he first came to me, he was just a regular kid, tall and skinny and cocky," Nelson said. "When I asked him questions he would say, 'uh huh,' or nod his head. I taught all the kids I had in the gym to say, 'yes sir,' and 'no sir.' So I told him from now on you are going to say 'yes sir' and 'no sir.'"

From the side of town Taylor came from he probably had no clue why he needed to show respect with anything other than his fists. But he did what Nelson asked, and almost immediately learned there were dividends to gain from being polite, a lesson learned at a McDonalds.

"One day I took him to the McDonalds. He said, 'Do I have to say yes sir to the guy behind the counter?' I told him yes, you go by the rules. He just shrugged his shoulders and went to order for us. When he came back he was all excited. He said, 'The guy gave me and extra burger and fries just for saying sir to him.' From that time on he realized being polite could open doors for him," Nelson said.

It was the first of many life lessons Nelson taught Taylor, and the beginning of a long, father-son type relationship that still flourishes today. To understand how important Nelson has been to Taylor's life, you have to know more than just the often-told story of a teenager whose father abandoned him when he was five.

Not only was Taylor from the wrong side of town, he had never even ventured to the other side. In his very small, insular world, Taylor learned how to feed, clothe and change diapers for his three younger sisters, but he was basically ignorant of everything else about the larger world outside.

Nelson recalls, for example, the day he first told Taylor he could be an Olympian, and how mystified the kid was.

"I told him if you work hard you can be on the Olympic Team. He said, 'Coach, what are the Olympics?' He didn't know what the Olympics were," Nelson said.

Nelson realized then he had a lot more to teach Taylor than just how to throw a jab and be polite.

Under Nelson's training, Taylor won several tournaments in his state, but because Arkansas was not known for producing boxers, he was never invited out of state to other amateur tournaments. That, and his life, changed for ever when he won a junior Olympics tournament and qualified to go to a competition in St. Louis.

"I said to Jermain, 'Now you can go to another state.' He said, 'You mean St. Louis is not in Arkansas?' This kid didn't know anything but Arkansas," Nelson said.

Nelson had been driving Taylor and some of his other kids to local tournaments in the pick-up truck he used as a bricklayer, but for this tournament he stuffed them in his Bonneville, turned on the country music and drove the six and a half hours to St. Louis.

"The kids there were from states better known for boxing," Nelson said. "I told Jermain, 'When they ask you where you are from, you shout out Arkansas! And when you win the tournament, you shout it out some more to rub it in.' Well, he won the tournament and he rubbed it in. I remember he said to me, 'Dang, I went to another state and won!'

"That was a turning point in Jermain's life. He had been somewhere where he had never been before. I didn't realize it at the time that one of Jermain's dreams was to travel. So when we traveled to other states he came to understand that boxing was something that could make his dream come true."

Nelson's life in some ways paralleled Taylor's. When Nelson first began training fighters he was as ignorant about boxing as Taylor was about life. Not only did Nelson take the road less traveled, he had no clue where it was going.

"When I was a kid, I wanted to play basketball. But I was short. The coach told me I wasn't big enough to be on the team, so I decided to do something where I didn't need a team -- fight," Nelson said. "I got into fighting just so I could whip every player on that basketball team."

Nelson never had an amateur career, but "just picked things up," he says. The leap from that inauspicious beginning to becoming a world class trainer was due in no small part to luck.

"My nephew Christopher Nelson wanted to box, so I took him to this gym run by Don Lowrie on East Fourth Street. Lowrie told me he wanted me to stay with him and be his assistant. I told him I didn't know nothing about boxing. But he said don't worry, he would teach me. I stayed with him in that old gas station for three years and then Don just retired and gave me the gym," Nelson said.

As part of Taylor's education about life, Nelson felt it was not enough for his boxer just to see other states. He needed to make a shorter trip -to the other side of town.

"I had my own bricklaying business. After work I would go pick up Jermain and take him to the gym because it was on my way. But then his family moved 20 miles from the gym and I had to drive there and take him to the gym and back, which took a lot of time," Nelson said.

Because of the distance, when Nelson came home from tournaments with Taylor he let him stay overnight at his house. It was an enlightening experience for young Taylor.

"He got along real well with my four boys. It helped Jermain to become the person he is today because he got to see a different part of life at my house. His side of town was infected with gangs. I had a three-bedroom home in a country club town," Nelson said.

As a bricklayer, Nelson earned a good living, but at one point he wanted more money in order to get rid of his 1976 vintage truck and buy a new one. That sparked a crisis between Nelson and Taylor that would prove to be turning point in both their lives.

"I told Jermain I was going to close the gym for the summer so I could work more and earn extra money. He said, 'If you do, I'm going to get in trouble.' So what I did was stop training all my other kids and just spent time with Jermain. I planned on working him so hard he would quit and then I could do more bricklaying. But I discovered there was no quit in him. He kept coming back. So I said to Jermain, 'I won't shut the gym for the summer because you are going to be a millionaire someday, and all I can earn is thousands. What is good for you will be good for me in the long run,'" Nelson said.

More important to Taylor at the time than being a millionaire was that he had found a man that could teach him about life.

"I can honestly say that if it was not for Ozell I would not be in the position I am in today," Taylor said. "He was the one that built the engine."

Just as Nelson thought early on that Taylor was special, Taylor felt the same about his coach.

"I bonded very quickly with Ozell. He was a father image to me. He was honest, trustworthy, dependable and most of all he believed in my abilities. Those qualities had an effect on me. He was someone I could always go and talk to about things outside the ring," Taylor said.

Those overnights at Nelson's home were an important respite from the hard life he lived at home.

"When I look back at where I come from, if it was a picture that I could show you, it would almost bring you to tears how poor we were," Taylor said. "If it weren't for him, there's no telling where I would have been. He and his wife took me in. I used to go over their house and eat, sleep, and do everything, just like I was a part of the family - and they had kids of their own. Now that I look back on it, it must have been hard because he wasn't rich.

"But he still tried to bring me in and love me like I was one of his sons. A kid, and especially a young man, needs to have somebody who he can look up to, because if he doesn't, he's going to look to the streets. It's easier to pick up a bad habit than a good habit. Coach taught me how to work. He taught me that your word is the only thing a person can have. And if you mess your word up, you're worth nothing. He taught me that if you put in 100% it will definitely come out 110%. And I believe that."

Taylor made the Olympic team, as Nelson had predicted, the first boxer from Arkansas to ever compete in the Games. He won a bronze medal, and then turned pro. Because Nelson had no experience on the professional level, he brought in trainer Pat Burns, who guided Taylor through a 25-0 record and a middleweight world title, while Nelson played the role of second man in the corner.

Today, neither Burns nor his successor, Emanuel Steward, will be working as lead man for Taylor's rematch with Kelly Pavlik. Taylor is going back to the future with Coach Nelson.

In camp for this fight, Nelson has returned to the basics with Taylor, using old school techniques to build strength and stamina. The positive changes he sees in Taylor began the night he was knocked out by Pavlik in September.

"I was there when Jermain lost to Pavlik and a lot of kids would have taken a few weeks off," Nelson said. "But Jermain wanted to get right back. He showed up at the gym the very next work day. Now I see a lot more drive in him. He is determined to not let this happen again and is working harder than he has ever done."

Win or lose against Pavlik, Nelson has his own dream for the future about Taylor.

"Hopefully when Jermain retires he can come and train some of my kids to help get them off the streets," Nelson said.

Nelson is confident that Taylor will do that because he was "brought up right." And, oh yeah, Nelson was quick to add, "Jermain still says 'yes sir' and 'no sir' to me."

It is nice to know there is more to a success story in boxing than winning titles.

JT was honored October 11th as Man of the Year for 2007 by the Little Rock, AR and North Little Rock, AR Boys and Girls Clubs.

The event was sold out with standing room only! Jermain had a great evening with his fans!

---

Back to the Drawing Board
Pavlik stops Taylor in the 7th round.

Jermain is disappointed but doing well.
He congratulates Kelly Pavlik and
looks forward to the rematch.

---

Let�s get ready to rematch
Taylor eager to face Pavlik again after getting KO�d

BY CHRIS GIVENS ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. � Jermain Taylor has not seen the last of Kelly Pavlik.

Whether that is a good thing for Little Rock�s Taylor is a question that will be debated from now until the contractually obligated rematch takes place.

No one from either camp is debating, however, the fact that Taylor and Pavlik put on one of the best middleweight fights in recent memory.

Pavlik knocked out Taylor with a devastating flurry of punches in the corner in the seventh round of their middleweight championship fight Saturday night at Boardwalk Hall.

This sudden and explosive end to Taylor�s middleweight reign came after Taylor, who had never been knocked down as a pro, floored Pavlik with a powerful combination of his own in the second round.

Fast-paced and action-packed rounds of boxing took place between the knockdowns, giving 10,127 people at Boardwalk Hall and a national HBO audience their money�s worth. It was the kind of fight that had boxing fans cheering, regardless of which fighter they favored.

Bob Arum, Pavlik�s promoter, and Emanuel Steward, Taylor�s trainer, have more than 80 years of combined boxing experience between them. Both were involved in the legendary Thomas Hearns-Marvin Hagler middleweight title fight in 1985, which is the standard-bearer for judging any great middleweight fight.

�This is one of the best middleweight fights I�ve ever seen,� Arum said. �It runs second to Hagler-Hearns, but other than that, I can�t think of a better middleweight fight.�

�Jermain prepared well, Kelly prepared well, and they gave us a tremendous, great fight,� Steward said. �That�s one of the greatest fights I�ve ever seen. To be a great fighter you have to have great heart, like Ali, Frazier, Hearns, Hagler, and both Jermain and Kelly showed that heart.�

The good news for boxing fans is that heart will be on display again � the question is not if Taylor and Pavlik will rematch, but when.

There was a rematch clause written into the contract, and Arum said that if Taylor demands an immediate rematch, Pavlik will grant it to him.

However, Arum is hoping both f ighters take interim fights first.

�I think it would be silly to do an immediate rematch,� Arum said. �There�s no reason for that. Lou [DiBella, Taylor�s promoter] has indicated the same thing, let�s get some air under it. We will honor the commitment, though.�

Contrary to what Arum said, there are some very viable reasons for an immediate rematch, including the fact that Pavlik�s popularity has never been greater and it is the one fight in the middleweight division that the public wants to see.

DiBella wouldn�t directly address the timing of a rematch, and instead said he will talk it over this week with the Taylor camp.

Taylor did say he wants to fight Pavlik in his next bout and wants the rematch as soon as possible, no matter what the rest of his team says.

�I def initely want a rematch,� a composed Taylor said in the postfight news conference. �That�s what boxing is all about, bouncing back and coming back. Kelly is a great fighter, and I�ll be glad to fight him again. I can�t wait.

�It�s all about bouncing back right now. I still feel like I�ve got a long way to go in boxing, and I have a lot to learn. Now I can�t wait for the rematch.�

Pavlik said he was also open to an immediate rematch.

�If Jermain wants to fight now, I�m ready,� he said. �I never turn a fight down.�

It is likely that when the rematch takes place it will again be a 160-pound title fight, and not at a 166-pound catchweight as originally written in the contract.

When the contract was signed, Taylor believed he would no longer be fighting at middleweight if a rematch took place. However, because he had such little problem making 160 pounds this time around, it appears he might be able to stay in the middleweight division, after all.

Taylor was shaken, and downtrodden, but composed after the fight. He said he had no problem with referee Steve Smoger�s decision to end the fight and rule it a knockout, and he was complimentary of Pavlik, as were Steward and DiBella.

But Taylor was also stunned.

�I can�t believe I lost,� Taylor said. �All that hard work, eight weeks of training camp. I did everything right. I kept my weight down. I don�t know, I just can�t believe I lost.�

Taylor didn�t make any excuses.

He was asked if he could have continued if Smoger didn�t stop the fight, but the former champion said the knockout was legitimate.

�He just caught me with it,� Taylor said. �I didn�t see it coming. I wasn�t expecting it. I couldn�t roll it like I wanted to do. He caught me with a great shot, man.�

Taylor was leading by three points on two judges� scorecards and four points on the third card entering the seventh round. He caught Pavlik with some great shots of his own in the second round, when Taylor got the first knockdown in any of his title defenses.

But it turns out that knockdown might have been his undoing.

Taylor, knowing Pavlik was in trouble, said he threw a ton of punches trying to get him out. He just didn�t throw the correct kind of punch � an uppercut � as Steward had instructed him.

Throwing that many punches expended too much energy, and Steward said when Pavlik answered the bell to start the third round the momentum had shifted squarely to the Youngstown, Ohio, fighter�s corner.

By the seventh round, despite being in control of the fight on the scorecards, Taylor was not moving as well in the ring. He was no longer avoiding punches and abandoned his jab.

It was only a matter of time before a powerful Pavlik punch connected.

In the end, several did. Pavlik got up off the mat to come back and win a championship. Taylor has to do the same thing with his career now.

�In the second round, I threw a lot of unnecessary punches,� Taylor said. �I should have come with the uppercut. I thought I had him down, but I�ll give it to Kelly. He got up and came back strong. I was very surprised he came back up.�

Taylor said he will find a way to do the same thing.

�Don�t give up on me. I�m coming back next time,� Taylor said. �I lost, but don�t give up on me. I�ll be back.�

---

---FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE---
DiBella Entertainment Presents....in association with Top Rank, Inc
COUNTDOWN TO TAYLOR-PAVLIK
PREMIERES SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 ON HBO AT
11:00PM (ET/PT)
NEW YORK, September 18th - HBO Sports is presenting a thirty-minute special analyzing the upcoming middleweight title fight between reigning champion Jermain Taylor and fast-charging challenger Kelly Pavlik. The highly anticipated 160-pound bout is set for Saturday, September 29th at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City and will be carried live on HBO in one of the network's signature broadcasts of the year. The fight is an intriguing match-up between the division's most acclaimed competitors.

The special "COUNTDOWN TO TAYLOR-PAVLIK," which will feature fighter profiles, expert analysis and forecasts for the showdown in Atlantic City, will premiere on Saturday, September 22 at 11:00PM (ET/PT).

Jermain Taylor (27-0-1, 17KO's) of Little Rock, Arkansas, is one of the sport's most accomplished stars. Two years ago he upset reigning middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins to take his place atop the 160-pound division. Kelly Pavlik (31-0, 28KO's) of Youngstown, Ohio, is a fast -rising power puncher who is hoping to replace Taylor as the division's top act.

The countdown special will also be available to HBO ON DEMAND subscribers 24 hours a day from Monday, September 24th thru Monday, October 8th.

ADDITIONAL HBO REPLAY DATES:
Sunday, September 23 at 11:45am & 10:30pm
Monday, September 24th at 3:30pm & 9:30pm
Tuesday, September 25th at 9:30pm & 5:05am
Wednesday, September 26th at 11:30am
Friday, September 28th at 1:00am
Saturday, September 29th at 10:30am

ADDITIONAL HBO2 REPLAY DATES:
Thursday, September 27th at 11:00pm
Friday, September 28th at 11:00pm
Saturday, September 29th at 5:45pm

ALL TIMES ARE ET/PT

---

---FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE---
DiBella Entertainment Presents....in association with Top Rank, Inc

JERMAIN TAYLOR
SETS HIS SIGHTS ON SEPTEMBER 29TH FOR HIS SHOWDOWN WITH KELLY PAVLIK
"I'm expecting a lot of fireworks in the ring with Kelly Pavlik. This is my kind of fight."

SCOTRUN, Pennsylvania, September 4 - With just a little over 3 weeks remaining World Middleweight Champion Jermain Taylor has been enjoying the peace and quiet he's finding in the mountains of Pennsylvania, where he's training for his September 29th title defense against Kelly Pavlik at Borardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. But what has Taylor (27-0-1, 17 KO's) most excited

is the prospect of a slugfest with hard-hitting Kelly Pavlik. Taylor relishes the opportunity to swap power shots with the top-ranked contender in his showdown. The bout which is being billed as "Throwback" is being promoted by DiBella Entertainment, in association with Top Rank Inc.

"From a style standpoint, my last couple of fights were wrong for me, but they were fighters who stepped up to the plate," Taylor said. "Kelly Pavlik is a fighter , just like me. He comes to fight, no running, no holding. It's about time. People are going to be surprised by what they see on September 29th. I'm expecting a lot of fireworks in the ring with Kelly Pavlik. This is my kind of fight."

Taylor has been training in the Pocono Mountain resort that trainer Emanuel Steward has used to prepare so many fighters. Taylor has trained for many of his fights in Miami, Florida and recently Memphis, Tennessee which is only a few hours from his home in Little Rock, Arkansas. It's quiet and peaceful in the Poconos and that's to Taylor's liking.

"Miami and Memphis were OK, but this is the kind of place where you can really train, focus and prepare yourself," Taylor said. "I like this atmosphere for training. There is nothing to do here but train, think boxing, go fishing and train some more. That's it. And that's good."

Kelly Pavlik who was in a brutal slugfest with Edison Miranda on May 19th in Memphis, has earned a shot at Jermain's title. It's the type of fight Taylor hopes he'll get when the two face off in Atlantic City on September 29th.

"I hope he chooses to fight me that way, but whatever he does, I know I'm going to win," Taylor said. "Slug, box. It don't make no difference. The outcome will be the same. Miranda didn't have all the talent people thought he had. I knew he was just all mouth. I know Pavlik is strong, but I know I am stronger than him."

Tickets priced at $400, $300, $200, $100 and $50 are on sale now and can be purchased at the Boardwalk Hall box office, by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-736-1420 or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com.

---

UNDISPUTED AND UNDEFEATED WORLD
MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION JERMAIN
"BAD INTENTIONS" TAYLOR TO DEFEND TITLE AGAINST UNBEATEN NO. 1 CONTENDER KELLY PAVLIK ON
SAT., SEPT. 29, AT BOARDWALK HALL IN ATLANTIC CITY

***DiBella Entertainment to present boxing extravaganza in association with Top Rank, Inc.; Title Bout to Be Televised on HBO Sports World Championship Boxing***

New York, July 31- Undisputed and Undefeated World Middleweight Champion Jermain "Bad Intentions" Taylor will make the fifth defense of his two-year title reign when he faces the stiff test of number 1 contender (WBC, WBO) Kelly "The Ghost" Pavlik on Saturday night, September 29, at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, it was announced today by Lou DiBella, president of DiBella Entertainment.

"Taylor/Pavlik is a classic middleweight showdown, a true throwback fight," said DiBella. "The tickets are reasonably priced and are already in high demand with a significant casino presale. Any fight fan wanting to see this historic battle should act fast and purchase their tickets as soon as possible."

"This is going to be a terrific fight, something that boxing really needs. The eyes of the sporting world will be watching these two great fighters in Atlantic City on Sept. 29," said Bob Arum, CEO of Top Rank.

Taylor, the favorite son of Arkansas, has successfully defended his middleweight crown against legendary Bernard Hopkins, Winky Wright, Kassim Ouma, and Cory Spinks since first taking the title from Hopkins in 2005.

HBO Sports World Championship Boxing will televise the world championship bout live at 10:15 p.m. ET/ 7:15 p.m. PT.

Taylor (27-0-1, 17 KO's) has yet to taste defeat since turning professional in 2000. Pavlik, likewise undefeated, gets his first chance at a championship on the heels of a spectacular knockout victory over Edison Miranda. No. 1 rated by both the WBC and WBO, Youngstown, Ohio's undefeated Pavlik is a bona fide knockout artist, registering 28 KO's in 31 career triumphs as a professional.

Taylor first captured the undisputed middleweight championship against the legendary Bernard Hopkins on July 17, 2005 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV, with a 12 round split decision triumph, and defended the title for the first time against Hopkins on December 3, 2005 at Mandalay Bay in Vegas with a unanimous decision victory. Taylor defended his title twice in 2006, first in Memphis in a controversial draw against Winky Wright on June 9, and last December 9 defeating former champion Kassim Ouma in Little Rock. Cory Spinks was next on the Taylor checklist, and Jermain was up to the challenge once again with a unanimous decision triumph in Memphis on May 19, 2007.

Tickets priced at $400, $300, $200, $100 and $50 are on sale now and can be purchased at the Boardwalk Hall box office, by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-736-1420 or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com.

---

Saturday, May 19th FedEx Forum in Memphis Tennessee Taylor defeats Spinks winner by split decision. Jermain is now 27-0-1 More fight information coming soon... Jermain's Training Camp in Memphis Photos courtesy of Chris McGee Taylor going up in weight to 168 By Chris Givens ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE July 9, 2007 LITTLE ROCK � Jermain Taylor�s reign as middleweight world champion will end in September, regardless of the outcome of his proposed fight with No. 1 contender Kelly Pavlik. Taylor, who is very close to signing a deal to fight Pavlik at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J., on Sept. 29, said that WBC and WBO title fight will be his last as a middleweight, which has a limit of 160 pounds. Taylor, even if he makes his fifth consecutive successful title defense against Pavlik, will vacate his championship belts and begin a new title quest in a new weight class. Key members of Taylor�s camp told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on Sunday that the undefeated champion from Little Rock will be moving up to super middleweight (168 pounds) immediately after the Pavlik fight. Taylor is in Orlando, Fla., on a family vacation and couldn�t be reached for comment, but has been in close contact with Ozell Nelson, his coach and co-trainer. �We just can�t make this weight anymore,� Nelson said. �We�re not going to kill ourselves to make 160. This weight has been a problem for a longtime. We�ve hired a nutritionist, done everything we can. I�m not going to make him do this anymore. It�s time to move up.� Nelson said Taylor has had to expend considerable effort to make 160 pounds ever since his fights against Bernard Hopkins in 2005. Taylor�s most recent fight, on May 19 against Cory Spinks, when he had to shed nine pounds in the final 36 hours before the fight, was the champion�s biggest test yet. So Nelson was adamant that he wanted Taylor to move up in weight immediately and give up his titles before a September fight. If that meant Taylor doesn�t fight Pavlik, that was fine with Nelson, who said he was only looking out for Taylor�s health and safety. But Nelson said Taylor was equally adamant about wanting to fight Pavlik. �This man has the heart of a champion,� Nelson said of Taylor. �He will sacrifice for his fans. Jermain wants to fight Pavlik because the public wants this fight. He just wouldn�t feel good about himself if he didn�t fight Pavlik. I�ve never seen him want to fight someone so badly. Personally, I want him tofight at 168, and I suggested to him that he move up now. But I respect Jermain�s decision, and I know he�ll do what it takes.� Lou DiBella, Taylor�s promoter who has worked for nearly a month to secure a fight with Pavlik, said that he, like Nelson, has concerns about the sacrifice Taylor will have to endure to make 160 pounds. �The reason he wants to fight [Pavlik] so bad is why he�s such a great champion,� DiBella said. �I know Jermain wants it, but you don�t want to send him out there when it�s his pride vs. his well-being. I appreciate his attitude, and it�s what you want to see from him. But that doesn�t mean the fight should happen at 160.� There is still a chance the Taylor-Pavlik fight happens at a catch-weight between 160 and 168 pounds. DiBella has approached Bob Arum, Pavlik�s promoter, with an offer for the two boxers to fight at 168 pounds for the same money as the 160-pound title fight. It is doubtful that Pavlik (31-0, 28 KOs), who is the WBC�s mandatory middleweight challenger, will accept the offer, however, because the fight wouldn�t be for any title. Although Pavlik could fight Taylor at 168 pounds and retain his No. 1 contender status, Pavlikhas been consistent in saying he wants to win a middleweight world championship. All sides expect a deal to be reached between the two camps this week. Jack Loew, Pavlik�s trainer who spent Sunday golfing with Pavlik in their hometown of Youngstown, Ohio, said his fighter has no interest in leaving the middleweight division without a title. �Why would we fight him for no title?� Loew said. �We�re fighting for a title in September. If Jermain shows up that night, I guess it�s him. As far as I�m concerned, we�ve been told [by the WBC] that we�re fighting for a title our next fight, and if Jermain tries to bypass Kelly, he�ll get stripped and we�ll fight someone else.� Pavlik has also had trouble making 160 pounds. Last month, in an interview with Boxingscene.com, Pavlik said he will eventually need to move to super middleweight. Taylor (27-0-1, 17 KOs) has never failed to make weight, but it has never been easy, either. Taylor, who is 6-1 and will turn 29 next month, normally walks around at 185 to 188 pounds between fights. He is muscular, and as his frame continues to fill out as he gets older, it is difficult to stay at160 pounds, Nelson said. Nelson and DiBella said losing the nine pounds in three days before the Spinks fight took something out of Taylor. Emanuel Steward, Taylor�s primary trainer, is currently in Germany, where he worked the corner for Wladimir Klitschko�s heavyweight title defense over Lamon Brewster on Saturday, and unavailable for comment. But it is Steward, who does all the cooking in training camp for Taylor and is primarily responsible for ensuring Taylor�s conditioning, that DiBella wants to hear from before fully deciding on whether Taylor should fight again at 160 pounds. �Emanuel must be consulted,� DiBella said. �There must be an honest assessment. The kid [Taylor] is willing to do whatever it takes, but that doesn�t mean he should. He didn�t look like himself against Spinks, and Pavlik isn�t Cory Spinks. This has to be expressed to the kid.� Nelson said Taylor will hire a nutritionist who will begin work preparing a diet for Taylor immediately. Nelson said Taylor will be cutting weight in a safe, healthy way before he leaves for his 6-to-8-week training camp. BY CHRIS GIVENS ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE June 12, 2007 Fairly or not, middleweight champion Jermain Taylor has earned his share of critics after what some believe was a lackluster title defense against an elusive Cory Spinks. Taylor might have found a way to appease those critics � by giving boxing fans exactly what they want. Promoters for both Little Rock�s Taylor and Kelly Pavlik, the WBC�s No. 1 contender, confirmed that a deal in principle has been worked out for a September title fight. The hard-punching Pavlik (31-0, 28 KOs), of Youngstown, Ohio, is the hottest boxer in the middleweight division, coming off a spectacular seventh-round knockout of Edison Miranda on the undercard of the Taylor-Spinks fight on May 19. The fight was intended to provide Taylor a true challenger for his WBC and WBO belts. On May 20, it seemed the entire boxing world was clamoring for a Taylor-Pavlik title fight. A victory over the legitimate, and dangerous, contender would provide Taylor (27-0-1, 17 KOs) plenty of ammunition to silence the critics. �I think it�s a great fight, and I love Pavlik. He�s earned a title shot,� said Lou DiBella, Taylor�s promoter. �The winner of Pavlik-Miranda deserved it, and Pavlik proved it decisively. He�s a tremendously exciting middleweight, and the best middleweight who is not the champion. Jermain wants to fight him and is pumped and ready for the fight.� The working date that HBO has reserved for the fight is Sept. 29, although members of Taylor�s camp said they would like to see the fight earlier in September. DiBella said there are four possible venues for the fight � Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York or Miami. The deal is not done, and there is still the possibility that Taylor takes an interim fight before meeting Pavlik, possibly against Felix Trinidad. However, both DiBella and Pavlik�s promoter, Bob Arum, said there are likely no obstacles left to prevent an immediate Taylor-Pavlik fight. DiBella said there will be a rematch clause in the contract in the event of a Taylor loss. �Bob and I basically have a deal,� DiBella said. �We have no major terms we are fighting over and I believe it will get done. Bob and I have always been able to work things out.� DiBella said he hasn�t yet finalized terms with Taylor, or Al Haymon, Taylor�s manager. However, DiBella said he knows Haymon is on board with the fight and Taylor also wants Pavlik. Ozell Nelson, Taylor�s co-trainer, said Taylor �definitely� wants to fight Pavlik. �That�s a real big �yes,� � Nelson said. �That�s a high possibility [that Taylor meets Pavlik in September]. And Jermain will look real good against Pavlik, who will be the first right-hander we�ve faced since Bernard [Hopkins, on Dec. 3, 2005].� DiBella said he still needs to work out some issues with HBO, which will televise the fight. But with the network guaranteeing a fee in excess of $4.5 million, DiBella said the fight would be able to avoid pay-per-view. �HBO came with a fair offer and Bob has been fair, so there is no reason a deal shouldn�t get done,� DiBella said. DiBella said that a Taylor victory would mean the Little Rock native would be able to fight again in December. Taylor has said he wants to fight three times in 2007. There is still a possibility that Taylor could meet Trinidad, who recently said there is a good chance he will come out of retirement. But for now, DiBella said he is proceeding with the plan to fight Pavlik in September, and a final deal with signatures should be done soon. It is the fight that most boxing fans want to see. �Taylor may have his critics,� DiBella said. �But no one can say he�s ever ducked an opponent.� Conversation Between Champions: Teddy Atlas interviews Jermain Taylor In July, Jermain �Bad Intentions� Taylor ended Bernard �The Executioner� Hopkins 10-year reign as Middleweight Champion that had lasted an unprecedented 20 straight defenses. The 27-year-old Taylor walked away from the 12-round spilt decision bout as the undisputed WBC/WBA/IBF and WBO Middleweight Champion of the World. Jermain Taylor and Teddy Atlas are champions. Jermain is the undisputed middleweight champion of the world. He is undefeated in the ring and a family-first, honest gentleman outside of the ring. Teddy Atlas is one of boxing's most celebrated trainers and analysts, but he's so much more than that. His life experience and insight have not only produced a critically acclaimed autobiography, but have also made him a tremendous influence on many, many young fighters' lives. Put the two together for an interview and it goes far beyond a simple conversation; it becomes a much deeper dialogue between two men about anger, tragedy, overcoming obstacles, and Teddy finds out the one reason Jermain Taylor can't walk away from boxing... TEDDY: I want this to be something that when the people read it, they will feel like they know you a little better. They�re going to understand a boxer a little better. We�re all shaped by things that happen in our lives. What has shaped Jermain Taylor? JERMAIN: Without a doubt, hard work. Every job that I ever had I�ve worked hard. I used to work construction with my coach and that�s all he used to say: �Hard work pays off.� I believe that right there carried over to boxing. Boxing is basically my job. I just always believe that hard work pays off and so far it�s been working for me. TEDDY: So doing �real world� things like working construction, in addition to boxing, helped you understand what the world is really about? JERMAIN: Yes sir! If you want something you have to work for it. Ain�t nothing gonna come to you if you�re sitting on your butt. TEDDY: You�ve been open about the fact you had a severe stuttering problem as a child. In your case, the confidence gained from boxing may have actually improved your ability to talk. How did boxing impact you as far as your stuttering problem? JERMAIN: I don�t know... it�s really hard to explain, but as a kid I couldn�t say two words. I couldn�t say the word �phone.� It was hard on me. But boxing, and especially being in front of a camera so much, has taught me to relax. Not too long ago I spoke to some kids who all stuttered bad. I felt so sorry for them because I knew exactly what they were going through. I told them my experiences with it, and they were wondering how I got up there and was able to talk in front of them. I just told them, �Just take your time and have confidence.� I believe boxing has really helped me with that confidence. TEDDY: You know it is amazing that some people look at boxing as barbaric, but it�s a sport that�s able to take kids and help them find themselves, help them feel better about themselves, help them be able to speak better & JERMAIN: It�s kind of ridiculous. Boxing is really not a barbaric sport. It�s just a sport like basketball or football. Boxing has got such a bad name to where people think you have to be mad at each other to go in there and box. You don�t have to be mad at your opponent. We can go in there and fight our hearts out and then go have dinner! I don�t hate any of my opponents. I wish them the best and I wish everyone goes home afterwards, healthy and to their families, you know? TEDDY: You�re so right, Jermain. There is so much that can be learned socially by people if they understood really what boxing does for kids, how it helps them find themselves, and you�re perfect proof of it. JERMAIN: I�m a prime example of it. Yes sir. TEDDY: Next question: You�ve represented the USA. You won a bronze medal - a tremendous accomplishment - in the 2000 Olympics. It�s a great accomplishment you won a bronze, but I�m sure you wanted to win a gold. You had to be disappointed in not accomplishing that but what did that experience of fighting in the Olympics do for you, and how has it served you in your pro career? JERMAIN: It�s played a big role in my pro career. When I was up there on the stand receiving the medal I kept telling myself, �I�m not third place. I�m not third.� I was hearing their national anthems and I was looking at all the flags and my flag was third, I said, �I will never be third again.� So from then on I put it into another gear. All that hard work was to never finish in third ever again. TEDDY: If you had won the gold medal in the Olympics, obviously things would�ve changed for you. So here�s the question: If you would�ve won a gold medal would you have been as successful as you are now as a pro having not won? JERMAIN: I don�t think so. I think God does everything for a reason. First of all, I think I wasn�t ready to be No. 1. I had a long way to go. I feel like now I�m ready. I�m finally ready to be No. 1. And I feel I�m handling it great. It�s hard but I�m handling it. I feel if I was number one coming out of the Olympics I wouldn�t have been able to take it to the next level. TEDDY: That�s a very honest answer. I don�t expect anything less from you. I think that�s an answer that can help a lot of kids out there. JERMAIN: Yes sir. You know, just because you didn�t win a fight, it probably wasn�t your time to win that fight. Don�t ever give up. Keep trying, keep doing it, and tell yourself everyday, �I�m No. 1. Even though I lost that fight I�m No. 1.� TEDDY: What made you begin boxing? JERMAIN: I never watch boxing. I still don�t watch it. Unless it is a person I know, or it�s a big, big fight. I started boxing because I had cousins that boxed. So I went down to the gym and man & I fell in love from the first time I came down there. It gave me a chance to be a part of something positive, a community. My mother, she told me to go do it, but do it 100 percent. And that is exactly what I did. I put everything I had into boxing. Everything. TEDDY: That�s obvious to me. That comes out in all of the accomplishments you�ve been able to gain in a relatively short amount of time. I mean, you went right at the guy who was the champ with the record for title defenses as a middleweight (Bernard Hopkins). And that wasn�t enough! Then you fought him for a second time just to make sure the first one wasn�t an accident. Jermain, one day you�re going to have the battle of your life. You�re cut, you�ve been on the floor, you�re behind, and I know what any fighter would say - they�d do what they needed to do to dig down and come back. If you were in that situation where would you dig? Where would you dig down and what would you think of to make it possible to come back in that kind of fight? JERMAIN: You know what? I would just think about how hard I�ve worked and I would just say to myself, �I�m not going to lose this fight. I�m not going to lose this fight, I promise you. I�m not going to lose this fight. I�m going to do this for everybody.� Whatever it takes to do it I gotta do it. I gotta throw until I can�t throw no more. If you want to beat me you�re going to have to knock me out.� That�s what I am going to keep telling myself. �If you�re going to beat me, you�re going to have to knock me out.� TEDDY: What if you were told that you could retire today and you would be given enough money to be secure for the rest of your life and the rest of your family�s life, but you had to stop boxing right now? Would you and could you right now be satisfied with what you�ve done and live comfortably? Forget about any of the pressures of having money. Just as a man, as a fighter, as a person. Could you be satisfied to walk away right now? JERMAIN: I know this is going to sound bad, but I don�t think so because I want to have at least one more rematch with Winky. If there could be just one clause in there, just say there would be one more fight with Winky. And because of that, I�d have to say no, because I have to have one more. I can�t live the rest of my life knowing that this guy is equal to me or it�s a tie. I want to be number one, and I don�t know man, it bothers me. I don�t think I can live my life knowing that me and Winky had a draw. TEDDY: That doesn�t sound bad at all. That sounds like a champion, like a competitive person. It�s your pride. That�s a great answer. The next question - and this is real simple: You�re a great kid. Anybody who has spent some time with you sees that. Forget about the kid with the long jab and the good right hand. Who are you? Who is Jermain Taylor? JERMAIN: I feel like, I�m just an honest guy. If I tell you something, that is what I mean. I�m not going to say a lie to you. I put my family first. TEDDY: People have experiences good and bad in their lives. And some of those experiences unfortunately are tragedies. And those tragedies do usually one of two things: They either become an impediment to somebody to where it stops them from going forward. Maybe it is something that stops them from going forward with some of their goals in their life. But with some people, it also impacts them in a way where it makes them go forward. Now the tragedy I am talking about with you is when your grandmother was killed. How did that tragedy stay with you and how has that tragedy affected you and what has it done to you? {Editor�s note: Jermain�s grandmother was murdered by her son, Jermain�s uncle, in 1999. Jermain�s uncle committed suicide just days later.} JERMAIN: Well, to be honest with you, it made me angry. I wanted to... I wanted to kill my uncle. I should�ve been there for my grandmother and I wasn�t. I think to myself all the time, �What if I was there?� It changed me because it put a lot of anger in my heart. I talked to my mother about it, my aunties and uncles and they just told me, �Jermain, there isn�t anything you can do.� But the anger is still there because my grandmother was the person who told me I could do whatever I wanted to do. She always told me that. And when I started boxing she was so proud of me just because I had something to do. I wasn�t running around with the gangs and stuff. I was doing something good. She just put a smile on my face and she was taken from me. So it put a lot of anger in my heart. TEDDY: Did it force you to have to find out that it is OK to be angry when you have a reason to be angry, but you have to find a way to be constructive with that anger? JERMAIN: Yes sir that is exactly what it is. If I was sitting home all day, angry, not doing anything about it, saying, �I hate, I hate,� I would drive myself crazy. But I think I have found something, because when I step in that ring, I tell her, �Just look after me,� and I go in there and do what I have to do. TEDDY: So I take it that your grandmother is still with you? JERMAIN: Man, she is in me till the day I die and I know it. TEDDY: If you could have one fight - any fighter from any time, any era - one defining fight for Jermain Taylor, who would your opponent be? JERMAIN: To be honest with you I never watched boxing growing up so I really couldn�t tell you who I would fight. But as of today, just because this man tied me when I know I can whoop him, it�d be Winky Wright! I have to whoop this man before everything is said and done. I don�t care what happens. I have to whoop this man before I get out of boxing. He does not compare to me. TEDDY: What is it that you get out of fighting? We all know the professional accomplishments, we know about the money, but there is something else what do you get out of boxing? JERMAIN: I get happiness. I get something to do. I get a name to go by that my kids can be proud of. And that�s what it�s all about, man, your kids. You know, I will be able to send my kids to college. My kids will be millionaires by the time they�re 18. That is what boxing has given to me. All of the legacies and accomplishments? Damn all that. They can have that. Oscar can have his 21 title defenses. Winky can have the best defense in the world. They can have that. All I want to do is support my kids and my family and I am out of boxing. And I have to whoop Winky before I leave and that�s it. TEDDY: If you could change one thing about your boxing mentality what would it be? JERMAIN: Stop being so angry. People think that I am the nicest person in the world but there is a lot of anger in me. And when I step in that ring... I let it out. Just stop being so angry. TEDDY: You�re an honest guy so I am going to ask you an honest question: When fighters have accomplished as much as you�ve accomplished, when you get to that level that you�ve gotten to in boxing, sometimes there�s a natural regression, when you win that title and you become acclaimed you become comfortable. Some things, you don�t plan on it, but it�s human nature. Some things go backwards. You get a little full of yourself. It�s human nature. What happened in your last fight against Kassim Ouma? It wasn�t one of your best fights. Is it the fame, getting to where you want to be, getting comfortable? Is some of that getting to you in a way where you�re taking your eye off the ball? In some way are you being affected by your success? And is it something you have to look out for and grab a hold of? JERMAIN: I am being affected by it. I feel like my last fight &here; it is, �I am the middleweight world champion,� and that is the only thing that is in my head. �I gotta go in here and knock this boy out. He shouldn�t even be in the ring with me. He�s smaller than me.� And I am thinking I am just going to go in here and knock him out, when I should�ve been thinking, �Just go and look good. You�re the middleweight champion of the world. Just go in there and box. Use your jab. Work. Just fight hard.� Instead, the media is all in my head. Knockout. Everyone predicting a knockout when I shouldn�t have been listening to that. I should�ve been going back to the basics: �This guy comes to fight and he works hard and he�s never been knocked out, just go in and box with him. Don�t make this fight hard.� TEDDY: Honest answer from an honest fighter. Are you going to correct that? JERMAIN: Yes sir, with all my sparring partners. I�m just going to go in there and box. I�m not trying to knock nobody out - just go in there and work. Get back to using my jab, man, get back to using body shots. I see it totally. I feel like I know I am a better fighter than what I have been doing. I gotta get back to my basics, because that�s what got me here. TEDDY: I want to ask you about Muhammad Ali. Everybody has a thought or a memory of him, but he is sick, and it seems like he is getting a little bit sicker. There have been reports that he hasn�t been doing too well lately. My question to you is very simple: What does Muhammad Ali mean to Jermain Taylor? JERMAIN: He put everything he had into boxing. He put his life on the line for boxing. I watched him the other day and I thought, �How many punches is it going to take before I wind up like that? And am I willing to put my life up like he did?� And I am. If it is going to make my kids and my life a lot better, I am willing to put my life on the line for that, and that is exactly what he did. And when I look at him I have so much respect for him because he put everything into boxing. Everything. TEDDY: Yes. Very, very true. Does the thought come to mind of getting out early? JERMAIN: It does. I�ll be honest with you, it does. I think about it and I ask myself, �How many punches can you take until you can�t take no more?� And everyone is different. It could be two more punches for me. How do I know that? I feel like in boxing you have to get in and get out. It�s not a long-term sport. TEDDY: Thanks Jermain. Best of luck in the future. JERMAIN: Thank you, Teddy. Take care. Jermain Taylor.... Ready To Defend Title Against Cory Spinks / Saturday, May 19th / Memphis, Tennessee ----FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE---- JERMAIN TAYLOR MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMP READY TO DEFEND TITLE AGAINST CORY SPINKS Saturday, May 19th FedEx Forum, Memphis, Tennessee Live on HBO World Championship Boxing MEMPHIS, May 8th - While "The World Awaited" for another bout, Tennessee, Arkansas and Missouri fight fans are waiting for one too. Jermain Taylor and Cory Spinks are in the final stages of preparation for their WBC and WBO middleweight championship on Saturday, May 19 from FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. The bout will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing at 10:15pm (ET) / 9:15pm (CT) / 7:15pm (PT). Jermain Taylor, from Little Rock, Arkansas, is universally recognized as the World Middleweight Champion. He defends his belts against St. Louis native, and current champion in Cory Spinks, who is more than a fighter with a famous last name. �Cory is a very good fighter, he�s a World Champion so that tells you a lot right there,� said Taylor. �He�s very fast and a top-notch fighter and I know he will be well prepared to do battle. I'm approaching this fight with Cory just like any other challenge to my belts, very serious.� Because Spinks is a southpaw, Taylor has made sure his sparring partners are left-handed fighters and men who are quick. Spink's speed isn�t much of a concern for Taylor but he does understand you must prepare for it. Taylor has taken on southpaws and fighters with complex styles like Winky Wright and Kassim Ouma in the past. �We�ve had a great training camp and the sparring partners have been good,� Taylor said. �These guys have always kept me in shape and make sure I�m ready for a big fight. The sparring sessions have been very serious and intense with this training camp.� Helping Taylor take his game to another level is Hall of Fame trainer Emanuel Steward. The veteran trainer said this is one of the best camps he�s been involved with. �Jermain has been fantastic,� Steward said. �Our chemistry is getting so much better and he really wants to beat this guy and look impressive. There are a lot of fights we could have taken, easier fights, but Cory is an excellent fighter. He�s been on a big stage in his career and we don�t expect an easy fight, but we are confident in Jermain�s abilities.� Lou DiBella, president of DiBella Entertainment and promoter for Jermain Taylor is expecting an exciting night of boxing on May 19th at FedExForum. "Memphis will be electric for the great show and the entire weekend will be a celebration. I'm excited that tickets are moving so well," said DiBella. With the fight close to both fighter's hometowns it will be interesting to see where the crowds will come from. Taylor has a huge following from Little Rock and he knows his hometown will support him for a �road� game. �My fans are great and have been supportive of me my whole career,� Taylor said. �That�s why the fight is here in Memphis so Cory�s people can show up and my people can be there. The environment will be great for both of us.� For more information on DiBella Entertainment,visit www.dbe1.com / Don King Productions www.donking.com / Prize Fight www.prizefightpromoters.com / FedExForum / www.fedexforum.com / HBO Sports www.hbo.com/boxing March 16, 2007 Taylor Fight Update BY CHRIS GIVENS ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE A fight that was nearly nine months in the making imploded in a matter of moments. It took Jermain Taylor's camp just slightly longer to find a new opponent. Taylor's scheduled May 19 fight with Sergio Mora is history, again. But Little Rock's middleweight world champion is still going to make a title defense May 19, and this time against a fellow title-holder. According to Lou DiBella, Taylor's promoter, Taylor will meet IBF junior middleweight champion Cory Spinks at the FedEx Forum in Memphis. The fight will be on regular HBO, not pay-per-view. The Spinks fight materialized only after Mora backed out of a fight that both sides have been trying to make since last June. Mora first was mentioned as an opponent after Taylor fought Winky Wright to a draw June 17, 2006. Taylor fought Kassim Ouma instead, but again Mora was thought to be the next opponent after Taylor beat Ouma. Mora's promoter, Jeff Wald, then said Mora would take an interim fight first and fight Taylor in the summer. The Contender reality star then came back to the table, and it appeared both sides had reached a deal for May 19. Taylor's and Mora's camps agreed on purse and date but never site. Wald said Mora walked away because he refused to fight in Memphis, which he considers Taylor's "back yard." "I'm shocked. [Mora] had a great offer," DiBella said. [The fight's off] because the kid is a punk. Who's he to say he won't fight in Memphis? It had nothing to do with The Contender people; it was the kid himself. He wouldn't fight in Memphis, period, end of story. "This is why this business is so self-destructive. It's chock full of morons, including the guys wearing the mitts." Wald said he understands DiBella's concerns and that there are no hard feelings. Wald said he is still talking to DiBella about a Mora-Taylor fight in the near future, just not in Memphis. The parties tried to find other sites on the West Coast, but the NBA and NHL seasons made arena scheduling a problem. "[Memphis] just feels like fighting in his [Taylor's] back yard," Wald said. "We're an underdog anyway, and you'd like to even it out a little bit. [Also], I didn't see Memphis as a big enough event venue. We wanted to go somewhere exciting. I think Taylor is the kind of fighter that warrants it, and Mora is a fighter that warrants it." Taylor (26-0-1, 17 KOs) now turns his attention to Spinks (36-3, 11 KOs), the son of former world champion Leon Spinks. DiBella said he has an oral agreement with Don King, Spinks' promoter, and that HBO has signed off on the fight. DiBella said Spinks, 29, is an attractive opponent for Taylor, 28, because Spinks is universally recognized as the best 154-pound fighter in the world. Also, DiBella said, Spinks has a strong following in his hometown of St. Louis, which is an easy drive to Memphis. Spinks first won the welterweight title in 2002 and at one time held three welterweight belts. He lost them to Zab Judah in St. Louis, which kept him out of the ring for more than a year. Spinks came back to win the junior middleweight title over Roman Karmazin last July, then beat Rodney Jones on Feb. 2. "Obviously I think this is the biggest fight you can make in Memphis since you can drive from St. Louis and Arkansas," DiBella said. "Cory's been calling out Jermain for six months. He was obviously looking for the fight, wanted the fight. We knew that, and from a geographic standpoint, we're in Memphis, that's where our site is, and to have a fight that has so much local interest, it's a great opportunity." Criticism will come from those concerned that Taylor is fighting someone outside his division for the second fight in a row. Two other middleweights, Edison Miranda and Kelly Pavlik, have been vocal in their desire to fight Taylor. Instead, Miranda and Pavlik will fight each other July 28, with the winner getting an inside track to Taylor if Taylor gets past Spinks. "The kid has fought the two best middleweights, followed by fighting the two best junior middleweights," DiBella said. "Every ranking, every magazine, every pundit in boxing ranks Cory Spinks the No. 1 154-pounder in the world." "If you criticize a guy for fighting the best fighter in the world just one weight class below you, then the guys doing the criticizing are f*****g morons." Taylor said he is ready to fight Spinks, or anyone, but said he was surprised to be fighting in Memphis again considering that the FedEx Forum was only about half-full for his fight against Wright. Low attendance was attributed to high ticket prices, something Taylor is lobbying against. High ticket prices , primarily because of high ticket prices. "I just hope to God that they don't make the tickets that high," Taylor said. "That's the only way I'm going back to Memphis, if they make the tickets affordable. I mean, I like myself, but for $600, $700, I'll watch myself on TV." DiBella said most of the problems that came from the last fight in Memphis arose because of conflicts with the local site promoter, Prize Fight Boxing. DiBella said that won't happen again because he will be promoting this fight himself. "The ticket pricing will be extraordinary for people that want it to be affordable," DiBella said. Jermain Taylor update! Wednesday, February 28 2007 By Josh Barron, fightnews.com Still no firm site for WBC/WBO middleweight champion Jermain Taylor's next defense against unbeaten Contender: Season One champion Sergio Mora. Contender producer Jeff Wald told Fightnews.com that the HBO-televised fight will take place on either May 19 or June 2 and won't be in Taylor's hometown of Little Rock, Arkansas. Las Vegas and Miami are the frontrunners. In other Jermain Taylor news, Taylor and renowned cut man Ray Rodgers were inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame with the Class of 2007 last Friday evening at North Little Rock�s Alltel Arena which also houses the Hall of Fame. (More) February 23, 2007 Jermain Taylor inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame congratulations to the other 10 inductees, including local boxing legend & Taylor cutman, Ray Rodgers. BY CHRIS GIVENS ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE Jermain Taylor became the first middleweight to capture four belts in one night when he beat Bernard Hopkins on July 16, 2005, sweeping the titles from all of boxing�s major sanctioning bodies. Those four titles were just the start. In less than two years Taylor would be named Arkansan, citizen, sportsman, fighter and man of the year by various organizations. He would be given the keys to four Arkansas cities, and former Gov. Mike Huckabee named July 22, 2005, �Jermain Taylor Day.� But tonight, Taylor said, he is receiving his greatest honor. Taylor, 28 and still the middleweight world champion, will be the youngest person inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame at a banquet tonight at Alltel Arena in North Little Rock. �It�s the top. I mean the top,� Taylor said. �It�s an amazing achievement. I know that it�s the ultimate award you can receive. Only the best get inducted into the Hall of Fame, and you have to have done something spectacular to get inducted. I just thank Arkansas for this.� To do so in the prime of his career sets Taylor apart. �There was some consternation on the board that we�re passing over so many deserving people,� said Rush Harding, the outgoing Hall of Fame president who will pass his title to Bill Phillips tonight. �Everyone agrees that he [Taylor] deserves to be in the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame. No one thought he�s not worthy. That�s not the question. They thought he was awful young and there are other deserving people. But as we try to diversify the board and get younger people involved, well, part of that, the heroes here and now are going to be more in the forefront than the heroes of yesteryear.� Ray Tucker, executive director of the Hall of Fame, said five years ago there was a bylaw that prohibited induction into the Hall of Fame unless an applicant was 40 years old or retired from professional sports for at least five years. Steve Atwater, a former all-conference free safety for Arkansas and an eight-time Pro Bowler for the Denver Broncos, put an end to that bylaw. Atwater retired from the NFL after the 1999 season, but was inducted in 2002. Tucker said the Hall of Fame board knew Atwater was going to go in, so why wait? It was a similar argument with Taylor. �We look at it in a couple ways,� Tucker said. �If he boxes another 10 years, he�s not going to accomplish much more than he has right now. We�re also in the entertainment business. Jermain is a very well-known athlete, a great ambassador to the state.� Taylor�s rise from being a tough teen to a 28--year--old Hall of Famer began when he discovered boxing, and Ozell Nelson. Nelson ran a neighborhood gym, and persuaded a 13-year-old Taylor � and his skeptical mother � to give boxing a try. Taylor fell in love with the sport, and soon the boxing gym turned into a second home and kept him out of trouble. His amateur career soared, and Taylor began racking up national titles, such as the 1998 and 1999 Golden Gloves championships. Taylor easily made the 2000 U.S. Olympic team, and won a bronze medal in Sydney, Australia, becoming the first Arkansan to win a boxing medal. Taylor turned pro after returning home, and piled up an undefeated record as his star continued to rise, with help from a lucrative HBO contract. Everything changed on July 16, 2005, when he won a split decision over Hopkins, who was making a division-record 21st consecutive title defense. Taylor became the first boxing world champion to be born and reside in Arkansas. The state exploded in a shower of appreciation on the affable, charismatic champion who always said �Sir� and �Ma�am� and always talked proudly of his home state. A parade through downtown Little Rock was held for Taylor, the first such celebration since the 1994 national champion Arkansas Razorbacks basketball team was honored more than a decade earlier. Taylor has added to his resume. He defeated Hopkins in the rematch, and held onto his titles with a draw over Winky Wright. A homecoming victory over Kassim Ouma completed the whirlwind 20 months that led to tonight. �It just started out as a dream to be world champion,� Nelson said. �That dream came true. Now this is a true honor. To be inducted in state Hall of Fame, I never could dream this big.� Neither could Taylor. �When they told me about the Hall of Fame,� Taylor said, �I was like �Man, are you sure? I�m 28 years old, I�m still a young man, and I�m just getting started.� I figured one day I�d be in there, but I didn�t figure this soon.� Taylor said this honor means more to him than any national award. Nelson has stressed to Taylor the importance of representing Arkansas with pride from the day he started boxing. It is the reason Taylor wears �Arkansas� on his trunks in the ring, and why nearly every post-fight interview includes �I love you, Arkansas.� The fact that the people of Arkansas are bestowing this honor is what makes it special, said Andrew Meadors, Taylor�s business manager who has also been a member of the board of directors for 12 years and will be installed as vice president tonight. �So is he old enough to appreciate all of this? Absolutely,� Meadors said. �It will really hit him when he sees everyone, and sees the other athletes.� Ten others will be inducted with Taylor tonight in what Tucker said will be one of the strongest programs that Hall of Fame has ever presented. More than 1,300 tickets have been sold, a record for the banquet. �Each year we say �How can we top this?� � Tucker said. �But I think it�s going to be hard to top this year�s class.� Taylor said he intends to keep trying. �Me and my wife (Erica) were talking the other day,� Taylor said. �Here it is, I�m 28, I�m world champion, and now I�m being inducted into Hall of Fame. I�ve done a lot at age 28. I�m very proud of that. �But then I start thinking about how much farther I have to go.� Taylor defeats Ouma with a unanimous decision... For Immediate Release: "HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS: RETURN OF A CHAMPION" JERMAIN TAYLOR SET AND READY FOR FIRST HOMECOMING TITLE DEFENSE IN LITTLE ROCK AGAINST KASSIM OUMA SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9TH / ALLTEL ARENA / HBO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING "THERE'S IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME AND THERE'S NO PLACE I WOULD RATHER DEFEND MY TITLE" Andre Berto vs. Miguel Figueroa Featured In Co-Main Bout NEW YORK, Wednesday, November 8th - World Middleweight Champion Jermain "Bad Intentions" Taylor will don boxing gloves instead of a Santa suit, but he�ll get the opportunity to deliver a present when he defends his title at home in North Little Rock, Arkansas for the first time on Saturday, December 9 at Alltel Arena. Taylor (25-0-1, 17 KOs) will put his title at stake in front of his hometown fans which will be aired on HBO's World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:00PM (ET) / 9:00PM (CT) / 7:00PM (PT) when he takes on former World Champion Kassim �The Dream� Ouma (25-2-1, 15 KOs). The 12-round main event is being promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Golden Boy Promotions and Peltz Boxing. Taylor, 28, is one of boxing�s brightest stars and one of Arkansas� most popular athletes. The fight with Ouma will mark his first defense in his home state. He won the title by defeating the legendary middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins on July 16, 2005, and repeated the win in the rematch on December 3, 2005. �There�s no place like home and there�s no place I would rather defend my title,� said Taylor, whose last appearance in Arkansas was a one-sided decision over ex-middleweight champion William Joppy on December 4, 2004. �I have a lot of respect for Kassim Ouma. I know he�s hungry and he�s coming to get this title and we�ll give the fans a great night of boxing.� Taylor is known as much for his quiet charm and rugged good looks as he is for his boxing skill, but he�s developed one of the game�s most impressive resumes. He won a bronze medal in the 2000 Olympics after becoming the first Arkansas ever to compete in the Olympics. He quickly showed his amateur success was no fluke, reeling off seven consecutive wins, including five knockouts, in his first year alone as a pro. But he�ll face one of his most difficult challenges in Ouma, who is a former world title holder and is noted as one of the most active fighters in the business. Ouma consistently sets records for punch outputs and routinely throws more than 100 punches a round. �I watched Ouma against Sechew Powell, and excellent fighter who I have sparred with and let me tell you, the man comes to fight,� Taylor said of Ouma, who handed Powell his first pro loss on Aug. 5. �I respect that. He�s not the type of fighter who worries about technique. He throws punches and comes to win.� Ouma, who will be 28 just three days after the fight, was born in Uganda. At 6, he was kidnapped and forced to join the national resistance army. Andre Berto (15-0, 13 KOs), who is winning acclaim from many boxing writers as the top young fighter in the game, will meet gritty veteran Miguel Figueroa (24-5-1, 14 KOs) in the co-feature. Berto competed for Haiti in the 2004 Olympics and won a bronze medal for the U.S. in the 2003 World Championships. Only four of his bouts have gone more than four rounds. As another treat for the home fans, former world heavyweight title challenger Dominick Guinn of Hot Springs, Ark., will also fight on the card. The opponent for Guinn (26-4-1, 18 KOs) will be Zach Page (12-8-1, 4 KO's) who is coming off a win against former Light Heavyweight Champion Louis Del Valle. Tickets are priced at $650, $500, $300, $200, $150, $125, $75, $45, & $25 (Students Under age 18, Seniors & Active Military). Available through Alltel Arena Box Office, all Ticketmaster Outlets (501-975-7575) and Online at www.ticketmaster.com. Jermain Taylor's next world middleweight title defense will be against Kassim Ouma. Saturday, December 9th Alltel Arena, North Little Rock Tickets on sale NOW Congrats to Jermain for being named "Citizen of the Year" in Arkansas at the recent KARK (nbc) tv annual Community Service Awards Banquet. He was introduced by Gov. Mike Huckabee and promptly brought the house down with his humorous and from-the-heart comments!! It will be broadcast on KARK-tv Monday evening, July 31st from 6:30-8:00 p.m. (CST) for his fans in Arkansas to enjoy! Jermain retains Middleweight Championship belts Taylor/Wright scored a draw Jermain Taylor - 25-0-1 (17 KOs) Jermain and Winky Press Conference June 15, 2006 photos courtesy of Nelson Chenault                   ---FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE--- JERMAIN TAYLOR Camp Notes form Detroit's KRONK BOXING GYM �Being in Kronk helps you a lot because all you�re around is boxing. Every day you get up, you think about boxing, you go to the gym and think about boxing, you go home and think about it. It�s all boxing, and when I step into that ring on June 17th, I�m gonna be ready.� DETROIT, May 18 � There�s been more than a simple change in scenery for World Middleweight Champion Jermain Taylor as he prepares in Detroit�s historic Kronk Gym for his June 17th title defense against Winky Wright. It�s been a change in philosophy, a change in an already intense work rate, and a change in attitude. �It�s a boxing atmosphere here and I love it,� said Taylor, who is now training with the legendary Emanuel Steward in the Motor City. �Kronk Gym has had a lot of champions and I�m in awe just to be here.� With one month to go before the epic clash between two of boxing�s best at Memphis FedEx Forum which is being presented by DiBella Entertainment, Gary Shaw Productions and Prize Fight Promotions (a bout to be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 9:30pm ET / 8:30pm CT / 6:30pm PT), Taylor and the rest of his team � Steward and manager / co-trainer Ozell Nelson � checked in from the world famous Kronk Gym. Taylor�s First Impressions Of The Gym... �Once you come in the Kronk gym and get the Kronk t-shirt, you�re officially a member of the Kronk,� said Taylor. �As soon as you walk in the gym, you can feel it. It�s a boxing atmosphere. There�s people on the sidelines and everybody�s got their own opinion of you and nobody�s scared to say anything � everybody speaks their mind. I love the gym, and being in Kronk helps you a lot because all you�re around is boxing. Every day you get up, you think about boxing, you go to the gym and think about boxing, you go home and think about it. It�s all boxing, and when I step into that ring on June 17th, I�m gonna be ready.� Emanuel Steward Is One Of The Greatest Trainers In Boxing History, And His Home Is The Kronk Gym In Detroit, A Place Where You Must Check Your Ego At The Door Or Get Sent Home Packing. Steward Describes Taylor�s First Couple Of Weeks In The Gym� �This ain�t no place to try and be somebody,� laughed Steward. �You come in here with your head up in the clouds, you�re in the wrong place. So Jermain comes in, and he boxes the first time with Andy Lee, a left handed middleweight who�s one of the stars at our gym right now, and they had a real rough and spirited workout. It was nip and tuck. He said, �I�m not used to that.� They boxed again on Friday and there was electricity in the air. Jermain said, �I�ve been here for two weeks training. Never once has somebody asked me for my autograph. Nobody�s even asked to take a picture with me.� I told him, �You�ve got to realize that you were taking on the middleweight champion of this gym in Andy Lee. This is his turf right here, and you being the middleweight champion of the world, you�ve got to earn that respect here.�� Steward�s Stellar Reputation Precedes Him, But Why Was He The Right Man For The Job? Ozell Nelson Explains� �Emanuel Steward has been around a long time, and I know he knows all the tricks of the trade,� said Nelson. �He�s been around for decades, and some of the guys that would take him were guys that had already taken a loss, and Emanuel would come in and try to fix them. By knowing all this about Emanuel, and him just training Wladimir Klitschko to beat Chris Byrd, a tricky southpaw, that played a big part in it.� And How Has Taylor Reacted To The Change In Scenery� �Kronk is no joke,� laughed Nelson. �There�s a bunch of talented guys down there and Jermain is striving on proving himself. Every day is something different and the new scenery is allowing him to open up his eyes more and absorb what Emanuel is trying to teach him from a different perspective� Leaving His Usual Comfort Zone In Florida For Training Camp Was No Issue At All For �Bad Intentions�� �I�m a fighter, that�s what I do, and when it comes time to fight, I�m ready to fight,� said Taylor. �I have an understanding wife, and when it�s time to go to work, it�s time to go to work. I�ve got to pay my bills.� Steward Has Taylor In Tough Sparring Sessions In Detroit With Unbeaten And Hungry Fighters Such As Andy Lee and Sechew Powell. He Feels The More You Sweat In The Gym, The Less You Bleed In The Ring� �One of my philosophies that I�ve always believed strongly in is strong competition in sparring,� said Steward. �I don�t believe in sparring partners and I don�t even have them. That�s part of my success as a trainer � I�ve always had competitive workouts. I feel that�s what the Kronk is known for. I�ve always believing in sparring with good fighters, not sparring partners. And Jermain loves it.� Taylor Is Coming Off Back to Back Wins Over Future Hall of Famer Bernard Hopkins and Now Is Jumping Into The Ring With One Of Boxing�s Best, Pound for Pound, Winky Wright. What Does This Attitude Say About Jermain Taylor, The Fighter? �Jermain is willing to take on all comers and fight the best,� said Nelson. �He said �why wait when you can get �em now.�� Adds Taylor� �I just want everybody to know that I�m not gonna run from nobody,� he said. �If they say Winky Wright�s the best, then I want to fight the best. And whoever is next afterwards, I�ll fight him � it don�t make a difference.� So How Do You Beat A Tricky Southpaw Like Wright? �Winky can�t win a fight just by keeping his hands over his head,� said Steward. �You don�t get points for that � you have to punch sooner or later. That�s where Jermain�s reflexes will be a big factor and he�s doing all kinds of things that people haven�t seen from him yet.� �I�ve had five southpaw world champions,� continues Steward, �and everybody�s working to help him � Andy�s showing him what he gets hit the most with as a southpaw and we�ve got Sechew Powell, another undefeated boxer. But no one has ever seen Winky Wright decisively beaten and he�s on a roll right now. I�ve had a lot of these situations and it�s a challenge, but I find it stimulating to me as well. This is a hard guy to fight, and I�m a big fan of Winky, but I see a lot of little weaknesses, and I�ve got a younger fighter with faster hands and who�s bigger. If Jermain�s in great shape physically and mentally and competing on a high level in the gym, he�s gonna be a difficult guy for anybody to fight.� What Was It About Taylor That Enticed Steward To Take On This Job? �I saw he had a certain amount of toughness in him,� said Steward. �I also saw that he was a big kid, and I always liked him. And then he had that solid amateur background. But it was his mental toughness, and I saw it in those two fights (with Hopkins). Forget about all of that nice, Southern-type personality. I see a real, real tough guy inside of Jermain Taylor.� So How Does This Tough Guy From Little Rock, Arkansas Follow-up June 17th If He Beats Wright? �To tell you the truth, I�m not even worried about all that,� said Taylor. �All I want to know is that after I beat Winky Wright, who�s next?� Tickets are priced at $1,250, $1000, $750, $500, $300, $150, $100 & $75, with over 6,000 seats priced at $100 or lower. Tickets will go on sale the morning of Wednesday, April 5th and will be available at FedExForum Box Office (901-205-2640), all Ticketmaster locations, by calling Ticketmaster at 901-525-1515 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Walkin' in Memphis! -- Ronald 'Winky' Wright vs. Jermain Taylor! Saturday, June 17th in MEMPHIS!!!!!!!!!! Fight will be on HBO (not ppv) Taylor VS Wright: A Gentleman's Press Conference  (3-22-06) by Scotti Vandevender Press Conference Photos: ©JD Meredith, www.memphisboxing.com. Today the FedEx Forum in Memphis, TN welcomed undisputed Middleweight Champion Jermain Taylor (25-0, 17 KOs) and his future opponent Ronald "Winky" Wright (50-3, 25 KOs) with open arms. Taylor greeted a cell-phone-to-ear adorned Winky Wright with a handshake and an embrace, a far cry from the shouting match Bernard Hopkins brought with him to Taylor's last two press conferences. Prizefight Boxing's Brian Young summed up the press conference's respectful tone by labeling the two fighters "first class" guys, commending them for also taking an active role in their communities and exhibiting sportsmanship outside the ring. More Taylor and Trainer, Pat Burns Wright and Jim Wilkes Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton poses with Taylor and Wright Press Conference Photos: ©JD Meredith, www.memphisboxing.com. Click here for more photos from the press conference. For immediate Release Contact: John Cirillo, 212-972-5337, [email protected] Site Selected for World Title!!! UNDISPUTED WORLD MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION JERMAIN "BAD INTENTIONS" TAYLOR TO DEFEND TITLE AGAINST WINKY WRIGHT AT THE FEDEX FORUM IN MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE ON SATURDAY, JUNE 17TH ***DiBella Entertainment, Gary Shaw Productions and Prize Fight Promotions Announce Venue; Title Bout to be Televised on HBO Sports World Championship Boxing*** New York, March 3-DiBella Entertainment, Gary Shaw Productions and Prize Fight Promotions announced today that the much anticipated Jermain Taylor vs. Winky Wright Undisputed World Middleweight Championship, slated for Saturday, June 17th, will take place at the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tennessee. "Memphis has illustrated clearly that it is a boxing town and the FedEx Forum is one of the finest arenas in the country," said Taylor Promoter Lou DiBella, president of DBE. "We look forward to the southern hospitality in June." "Having held my last training camp there, and it being just two hours from Little Rock, Memphis is like a second home to me, said Taylor. "I can't wait to perform in front of my fans from Arkansas and my adopted hometown fans in Memphis. It's going to be a great night." "This will be a tremendous battle in a tremendous city, and the most important fight in the 160 pound division," said Gary Shaw, Wright's promoter. Said Prize Fight Promotions COO Brian Young: "This is the most significant middleweight championship fight in the last 25 years since Hagler vs. Leonard. The stakes couldn't be any higher in what promises to be the major fight of 2006. Two great fighters with one goal. I could not be more excited for my hometown to be the site of this epic battle." Congratulations Jermain! USA Today - Fighter of the Year for 2005 Boxing Digest - Fighter of the Year for 2005    (all weight classes) Arkansas Times - Arkansan of the Year 2005 Going, Going, Gone, for $2,700... A boxing glove autographed by Jermain Taylor sold for $2700 on ebay. Little Rock's KATV, Channel 7 put the glove (provided by Sports Authority) and a CD of the station's weeklong coverage from Las Vegas, up for auction. The proceeds went to the Little Rock Boys and Girls Club !!! Hopkins v Taylor: The Changing of the Guard On August 26, 2000, Jermain Taylor witnessed a professional boxing match in person for the first time. "I had just qualified for the 2000 Olympics," he recalls. "Some guy took the entire US Olympic boxing team to Las Vegas on his private jet to see Fernando Vargas fight Ross Thompson. Vargas knocked him out. Dominick Guinn was on the undercard and knocked his opponent out too. That was special to me because Dominick and I are both from Arkansas." Click here for entire article featured on www.SecondsOut.com See Jermain Taylor in Sports Illustrated's March Madness Issue. (page 43) Click here to read the article on the web. Click here to see a part of the featured layout. "Somebody's 0 must go..." The night began with TWO undefeated boxers: Saturday, February 19th Jermain "Bad Intentions" Taylor (23-0, 17 KOs) defeated "Haitian Sensation" Daniel Edouard (16-1-2, 9 KOs) in Round 3 at the 2:26 mark. The fight was held at the Staples Center - Los Angeles, CA This is the co-feature fight to the Hopkins-Howard Eastman world title fight. The fight was scheduled for 10 rounds and is not a title bout for Taylor nor Edouard. The fight was shown on HBO. Preliminary Stats: Jermain Taylor 23-0 (17 KO�s)   Daniel Edouard 16-1-2 (9 KO's) Punches 68 124 55% Landed Thrown Percentage 32 162 20% Power Punches 29 56 52% Landed Thrown Percentage 12 90 13% Click here for the latest fight photos! Here's what they are saying about Taylor-Edouard: DIBELLA ENTERTAINMENT'S MIDDLEWEIGHT SENSATION JERMAIN TAYLOR READY TO ROLL ON SATURDAY NIGHT, FEBRUARY 19, AT STAPLES CENTER ***Unbeaten Rising Star squares off against Daniel Edouard on HBO*** New York, Feb. 10 - All systems are go for DiBella Entertainment's undefeated middleweight sensation Jermain Taylor (22-0, 16 KO's) as he gets set to square off against the upset-minded Daniel Edouard (16-0-2, 9 KO's) on Saturday night, February 19, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The 2000 Olympic Bronze Medalist endured a heavy duty training camp in Miami, Florida, in preparation for the 10 round co-featured attraction on the Bernard Hopkins-Harold Eastman fight card. Both fights will be televised on HBO Sports World Championship Boxing at 9:45 PM ET/6:45 PM PT. "Edouard is a great fighter," says Taylor. "I know he's coming to fight, so I am taking him very seriously. This was the hardest training camp of my career. I had to do three-a-days: run in the morning, go to the gym at noon and then back to the gym again in the evening. I'm looking forward to getting in the ring and giving my fans a good show." Says trainer Pat Burns: "It has been a shorter training camp than we're used to, so our motto has been 'double the work in half the time'. Jermain has had an outstanding camp he is physically and mentally prepared to fight the very worthy Daniel Edouard." Ozell Nelson, Taylor's long time coach said: "Jermain had a hard camp in which he worked 110% because Edouard is coming to fight and hits hard with both hands. Jermain is going to dictate the fight by using his jab and his range and will catch Edouard coming in." Promoter Lou DiBella, president of DiBella Entertainment, is pleased with the giant steps Taylor has taken on his road to a title: "Edouard is another step on the road to middleweight supremacy. We are thrilled that Jermain is being showcased under the best middleweight in the world, a title that he aspires to and one day will achieve." Taylor will be making yet another HBO televised appearance, and the network's SVP of Sports Programming Kery Davis sees Taylor on the threshold of big things. "Jermain Taylor appears to be a breakthrough athlete," says Davis. "He has remarkable poise and talent. However, the challenge in front on him is considerable and Daniel Edouard knows he can make headlines with a standout performance. I hope both men recognize the challenge that is at hand." Russell Peltz, Edouard's promoter, is excited about the challenge for his fighter. "Edouard is very confident because he has boxed with Taylor in the gym before," says Peltz. "That's why he is so pumped up for the fight. He has had a wonderful training camp and looks forward to the challenge he faces on February 19th." Saturday, December 4th at the Barton Coliseum in Little Rock, AR Jermain Taylor (22-0-0 with 16 ko's) DEFEATS William Joppy (Former World Champion) (34-4-1 with 25 ko's) By a unanimous decision, Jermain Taylor is STILL the WBC Continental America's Middleweight Champion! Click here for photos from the weigh-in, press conference and fight! Preliminary Stats: Jermain Taylor 22-0 (16 KO�s)   William Joppy 34-4-1 (25 KO's) Punches 239 580 41% Landed Thrown Percentage 115 352 33% Power Punches 145 275 53% Landed Thrown Percentage 30 107 28% Jermain Taylor defeats Raul Marquez June 19th -- HBO "BOXING AFTER DARK" With a "flurry of punches from the fast-handed Jermain Taylor..." Photo by Chris Cozzone For more information and pictures from the fight, visit Fight News and scroll down to the Taylor retires Marquez! story. JERMAIN TAYLOR defeats Raul Marquez at the end of Round 9 when Marquez's trainer, Ronnie Shields, stopped the fight. Jermain wins by technical knock out and moves to 21-0 with 16 KOs. The pride of Little Rock is still the WBC Continental Americas Champion!!! Photos will be posted as soon as they are available. Please check back! Preliminary Stats: Jermain Taylor Little Rock, AR 21-0 (16 KO�s)   Raul Marquez Houston, Texas 35-3 (24 KO�s) 206 491 42% Landed Thrown Percentage 65 257 25% Marco Antonio Barrera vs Paulie Ayala Co-Main Bout FORMER OLYMPIANS COLLIDE ON JUNE 19th HBO "BOXING AFTER DARK" JERMAIN TAYLOR CONTINUES ON HIS ROAD TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP IN MIDDLEWEIGHT SHOWDOWN AGAINST RAUL MARQUEZ This fight is scheduled for 12 rounds and is for Jermain's Continental America's Middleweight Championship Belt! NEW YORK, May 24 � Jermain Taylor and Raul Marquez have both represented the United States in the Olympic games, and they�ve both experienced great success in the pro game. But Marquez has achieved something only a select few have � winning a world championship. And if Taylor wants to get to the middleweight title, he has to go through �El Diamante�. On Saturday, June 19th, in a twelve round middleweight bout to be held at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California, highly regarded middleweight contender Jermain Taylor will put his unbeaten record on the line against Raul Marquez in a battle of Olympic Medalists that will either further Taylor�s career or severely derail his progress. Jermain Taylor vs. Raul Marquez, will be aired live on HBO�s Boxing After Dark beginning at 9:45 PM (ET/PT). Fresh off his biggest win to date, an impressive, HBO televised seventh round stoppage of Alex Bunema on March 27th, Jermain Taylor (20-0, 15 KOs) has risen through the ranks at a pace that has impressed even the most hardened critics. Blessed with speed, power, and a Spartan work ethic, �Bad Intentions� - who won a bronze medal at the 2000 Olympic Games - is seen by most observers to be the franchise player in the middleweight division for years to come. Taylor is currently ranked third in the world by the WBC, IBF, WBA and fifth by the WBO and Ring Magazine. Raul Marquez has something to say about that. A native of Reynosa, Mexico now making his home in Houston, Texas, Marquez (35-2, 24 KOs), has established a reputation as one of the sport�s most exciting warriors. An Olympic Silver Medalist, the 32-year-old southpaw is also the former IBF Junior Middleweight Champion, a title he defended twice. Marquez has been on a tear as of late, winning five of his last six bouts, the only blemish being a controversial no contest with three-division world champion Shane Mosley. In his last bout, on October 23, 2003, Marquez scored a one-punch knockout of Humberto Aranda. Taylor-Marquez is part of an outstanding night of boxing presented by Golden Boy Promotions, in association with DiBella Entertainment and Top Rank and headlined by the featherweight battle between Marco Antonio Barrera and Paulie Ayala. $200, $100, $50 and $25 not including applicable service charges, are on sale now at the Home Depot Box Office. Tickets may also be purchased by phone by calling Ticketmaster at (213) 480-3232. March 27, 2004, Jermain 'Bad Intentions' Taylor defeated Alex Bunema. The fight was stopped :44 into round 7, 2:16 left in the round. The pride of Little Rock is still the WBC Continental Americas Champion!!! Click here for photos from the fight. Preliminary Stats: Jermain Taylor Little Rock, AR 20-0 (15 KO�s)   Alex Bunema Seattle, WA 24-4-2 (12 KO�s) 141 324 44% Landed Thrown Percentage 23 77 13% "MARCH BADNESS" BOUT CARD SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 2004 HBO BOXING AFTER DARK LITTLE ROCK, AR ALLTEL ARENA DiBella Entertainment is pleased to present the entire fight card for "March Badness", which will be held at the Alltel Arena on March 27. In addition to the co-main events starring homestate heroes Jermain Taylor and Dominick Guinn in their toughest tests to date against Alex Bunema and Monte Barrett, respectively, an action-packed six bout undercard is sure to please any boxing fan. Featured on the undercard, in separate bouts are: world rated contenders Kofi Jantuah and Duncan Dokiwari, former NABF champion and world title challenger Derrell Coley, and unbeaten prospects Terry Smith (a Little Rock native), BJ Flores and Kevin Stroud (a Crossett native). From top to bottom, "March Badness" may provide the most "bang per buck" in the boxing industry this year. USA Today names Jermain "Prospect of the Year 2003" Click Here for story. Jermain Taylor Knocked Out Alex Rios 54 sec. into the 1st Round on January 9, 2004 at the Mohegan Sun Resort Casino Uncasville, CT Jermain moves to 19-0 with 14 KOs Alex Rios was hospitalized. He has been discharged and is O.K. Jermain Taylor TKO Rogelio Martinez with 1:42 left in the 7th round, Martinez's team threw in the towel at the Mandalay Bay Events Center Las Vegas, Nevada November 8, 2003 JERMAIN "BAD INTENTIONS" TAYLOR RETURNS TO LAS VEGAS UNBEATEN MIDDLEWEIGHT TAKES ON ROGELIO MARTINEZ ON JONES-TARVER HBOPPV CARD SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8 NEW YORK, October 16 - In boxing, two years can be an eternity. Just ask Jermain Taylor. In June of 2001, the unbeaten middleweight contender, fresh off his Bronze medal-winning appearance in the 2000 Olympic Games, took on Marvin Smith in Las Vegas in his fourth pro bout, a bout which "Bad Intentions" won via a four round unanimous decision. Since that night, Taylor (17-0, 12 KOs) has gone from a young pro with a lot of potential to a rising star with a world title in his sights. Boxing pundits have almost run out of superlatives for the 25-year-old Arkansas native, so there's no better time to bring Jermain Taylor back to the capital of boxing than on November 8, when he battles Rogelio Martinez (13-4-1, 5 KOs) in a ten rounder on the undercard of the Roy Jones Jr.-Antonio Tarver pay-per-view card. "We are thrilled that Jermain will be appearing on a pay-per-view event with as much cache as Jones vs. Tarver," said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. "It is an honor for Jermain to be fighting underneath one of boxing's best, Roy Jones Jr." Taylor-Martinez, part of an exciting night of boxing televised by HBOPPV live from the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, will kick off the pay-per-view broadcast at 9 pm ET / 6 pm PT. The suggested retail price $44.95. With 17 fights under his belt, Jermain Taylor has quickly become one of the most accomplished boxers to come out of the Class of 2000. Using an array of different weapons - from a jackhammer jab to a concussive left hook and impressive ring generalship - Taylor has acclimated himself well to the pro game. In his last bout, on August 8, 2003, Taylor won his first pro title - the WBC Continental Americas championship - with a shutout 12 round decision over tough Freddie Cuevas (22-6-1, 16 KOs). He is currently ranked fifth in the world by the WBC and WBO, seventh by the IBF, and eighth by the WBA. In the 29-year-old Martinez, Taylor will be facing a stern test. Embracing the warrior image of his adopted hometown of Philadelphia, the native of the Dominican Republic has held the Pennsylvania State title and is coming off an impressive ten round unanimous decision over Freddie Cuevas on May 3 in Las Vegas. Tickets for this outstanding night of boxing, priced at $600, $400, $200, $100, and $50 are on sale now at all Ticketmaster outlets, www.ticketmasters.com and at the Mandalay Bay Box Office at 877-632-7800 . CALL YOUR LOCAL CABLE OR DIGITAL TELEVISION PROVIDER TO ORDER For more information on DiBella Entertainment, please visit www.dbe1.com Jermain "Bad Intentions" Taylor 17-0-0 (12 KOs) returned home to North Little Rock for his first title as a professional. Jermain Taylor took on Alfredo "Freddy" Cuevas (22-6-1 with 16 KO's), the hard-hitting Chicagoan who provided "Bad Intentions" with his toughest test to date. The fight went the full 12 rounds and Taylor has the WBC Continental Americas Title Belt. For more information on the creators of "JT Krush" visit www.official1records.com. New York, July 22 - There's been a change in plans for middleweight Jermain Taylor, who returns to his hometown for "Title Night in Little Rock" on August 8 at the Alltel Arena, but rest assured, this change in opponent is not of the usual fare. "We reviewed fight footage of Rene Arostegui (Taylor's original opponent) and decided that he wasn't the level of fighter we want for Jermain at this stage," said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. "We wanted Jermain to be in a real fight in which he would learn something. Freddy Cuevas will provide that on August 8." more... Best of Arkansas -- ATHLETE From Arkansas Times JERMAIN TAYLOR -- Who'd have thought a middleweight boxer, gifted as the Little Rock native is, would be voted the state's best. It could be a reflection of the Hogs' down year that none of them rose to the top. Pointing toward a knockout purse RUNNERS-UP: Derek Fisher, Matt Jones, Corliss Williamson Jermain now 16-0 (12 KOs), knocked down Nick Cervera 3 times in the 4th round and knocked him out 2 min. & 37 sec. into the 4th round during the May 17th fight. This is Jermain�s 5th straight KO !! Jim Lampley of HBO stated that Jermain has soared to the head of the 2000 US Olympic boxing class! Bad Intentions was the 1st to EVER knock out Nick Cervera ! To see Jermain Taylor's current record, click here Here's what their saying about Jermain's fight: Taylor jabs his way to prominence By Chad Skolny www.fightnews.com Nicolas Cervera has been fighting as a professional since 1991, but on Saturday night, he saw the future. That futuristic vision was Jermain Taylor, who knocked down Cervera three times in the fourth round of their bout at the University of Pittsburgh before referee Rick Steigerwald stopped the fight at the 2:37 mark of the fourth. Taylor (16-0) had made a statement to the world that he is evolving into a prominent Middleweight. "This was the right opponent for Jermain," said trainer Pat Burns. "He was a tough guy to fight, and Jermain had to step up. He had to be cautious because (Cervera) had knockout power." For that matter, so did Taylor. The former Olympian battered Cervera (33-4-1) with stinging jabs until he followed with a right cross early in the fourth round to drop Cervera for the first time. "My jab always comes first. I establish my jab, then I go from there," Taylor said. In some cases, though, the jab also comes last. Two hard jabs dropped Cervera a second and third time, propelling Taylor to a victory and another level in his young career. "The jab is probably Jermain's No. 1 weapon," Burns said. "He combines that with speed and power. If a fighter throws it well enough, he can win without throwing any other punches. Now, I'm trying to teach Jermain to throw more punches off the jabs." Cervera did have his moments as, for the first three rounds, the fighters randomly landed hard punches. Taylor connected with a straight right-left hood combination in the closing moments of the first round, but Cervera answered with several right hands in the second. By the end of the second frame, however, Taylor had begun to take control of the fight with his lengthy jab, keeping Cervera on the outside while inflicting punishment the Colombian seemed helpless to defend. "I think Jermain learned a little bit tonight," Burns stated. "He learned not to drop his hands. But overall, for the few fights he's had, I think he did quite well." The bout marked the first time Cervera had been knocked out in his 38-fight career, and fittingly it came by way of a Taylor jab. Now, the undefeated prospect will look toward an Aug. 8 date on ESPN2 against a competitor yet to be named. The opponent matters little to Taylor, who said before the match - and proved during the match - "I always come to fight." For more information on Everlast, visit www.everlast.com For more information on DiBella Entertainment, please visit our web site at www.dbe1.com

For more information on Jermain's fights, check out these sites: www.dbe1.com www.fightnews.com www.espn.com/boxing

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