Last Saturday night’s showdown between Jermain Taylor and WBC Super Middleweight Champion Carl Froch was a lesson in patience and persistence. Despite being outclassed early on and dropped by Taylor in the 3rd round, Froch remained undaunted in his attack and never lost belief in his abilities.
The ending result would see Froch slowly work his way back into the bout over the second half of the fight and eventually score a miraculous stoppage over Taylor in the 12th and final round with just 14 seconds rem aining. Behind on two scorecards by tallies of 106-102, Froch would have lost his titles via decision if he were to let Taylor remain standing.
While the loss was extremely disappointing and hard to swallow for Taylor and his people, it showed once again the beauty of boxing. Talent and skill alone often aren’t enough to overcome determination and grit and that is the exact reason why Carl Froch is a champion in this sport.
Wanting to get a deeper fan reaction of the bout, 8 Count News took a look at some choice boxing forums online to get a feel for what everyone is saying about Froch’s stirring victory, the future of both fighters, and much more. This is the Boxing Nation’s view on Froch-Taylor…
(La Pantera Miranda @
Boxingbb.com)…
I am not sure if Froch is the most polished SMW champ out there but he sure has guts and a good chin. He is still young and I think he can improve. Taylor could have ended this fight but he was scared of getting countered. Where do they go from here? Froch will not get his fight against Calzaghe and after being in two tough fights he deserves some rest. I think Froch should fight the winner of Ward/Miranda, either guy would make for a good fight but of course I wish it was Pantera who gets his shot. As for Taylor, there is Andre Dirrell or why not, Allan Green who would give him a hell of a fight. The fight was good but the finish was awesome!"
(Dave Rado @
BoxingScene.com)…
"It's sad that for whatever reason Froch fought mostly British journeymen until he was 30 years old, and that he fought his first world class opponent (Taylor) when he was 31. If he'd stepped up and fought world class opposition a couple of years earlier he would certainly have got his shot with Calzaghe, because it would have been a huge fight for both fighters in those circumstances. But he didn't, and he should just accept that his timing was all wrong. Even last year, if he'd tried to get a fight with Kessler instead of going for the WBC belt against Pascal, and if he had beaten Kessler, then Calzaghe might have delayed his retirement to fight him. But he just left it too late before stepping up to the top level. But that should all be history now, he should just be focusing on making a great career for himself against the active fighters in his own division, instead of which he's still obsessed with the past."
(Valdosta @
BoxingFanatics.com)…
"Taylor will go nowhere from hear. He had no business gassing like he did. The pace was quite moderate for most of the fight. His stamina is REALLY bad. Taylor won't accomplish anything at 168. As for Froch, he will lose real soon as well. He was far from impressive last night although he is a tough bastard with a big heart."
(Timba1988 @ BoxingScene.com)…
"I think Bika would be a good fight [for Taylor]. I doubt Bika could knock him out, and it would be a good fight for Taylor to get some rounds in. But people shouldn't rule out a big fight. He needs a tune up first, but Taylor is still a marquee name, and no doubt a top fighter in the SMW division."
(Xplosive @
FightBeat.com)…
"At the top level, is Taylor the worse finisher ever? I mean if this hick had any finishing abilities he woulda had stoppage victories over both Pavlik, and Froch. Doesnt matter. When a top fighter gets a guy ready to go... MOST times he should be able to finish. Some guys are just naturally able to finish guys better than others. For example... Mosley has always been20a terrific finisher. And then all time... you got guys like Leonard, Tyson, Pryor, and Arguello... who were the best at finishing hurt guys. Taylor is a horrible, horrible finisher... and I don’t think its fear. I just think he doesn’t know to finish a guy off."
(Erik @ Boxingbb.com)…
"First thing I will say is if either fighter went to the body at all the fight woulda been a lot easier for them. Taylor seemed to be the better boxer early. He just doesn’t have the killer instinct. He can’t finish. Not sure what happened but Taylor did not throw a lead right after the fourth or fifth round. Froch seemed to be open for it. I don’t think he hurt his hand or anything. Taylor's offense the second half was so one dimensional. One or two jabs & then once in a while a right. One last note on Taylor is he looked like he had no clue how to clinch. All he had to do was grab & hug. Even if he looses a point in round twelve for excessive holding he still wins a SD. Froch showed heart by hanging in there being outboxed in first half of fight. Great stamina to stay all over Taylor in the 12th. He is always fun to watch. Not quite sure about his chin. Look forward to see him again."
(Lefty @ BoxingFanatics.com)…
"Great showing by Froch. I like the fact Froch went to the US and fought a fighter like Taylor for his first defense. I was also impressed by his composure during the KD he suffered and the way he finished the fight in stopping Taylor in the 12th. Showed very good experience."
(O-Dogg33 @ BoxingFanatics.com)…
"That was a very good fight. Take my hat off to Froch for coming to America to try to earn respect instead of bitching and moaning about it like Calzaghe. I had Taylor up by a couple of points going into the 12th. I was never a fan of Taylor early in his career because I felt he was handed a bunch of 154 lbers and babied. But since the first Pavlik lost I've liked his new found hunger and he's always been classy and respectful. Even after this knockout he had no excuses and took his hat off to the ref. What a great guy. I hope he can bounce back. He has nothing to be ashamed of he just got beat by the better guy that night. I still think he's one of the top guys in the division. He certainly can beat Bute or even Froch in a rematch with some adjustments."
(REEDsART @ FightBeat.com)…
"Can't Recall EVER Feeling MORE SORRY for a Fighter after a Loss than he REPEATEDLY has for Jermain Taylor...NO, Dude ISN'T Great, he's NOT a Particularly SMART Fighter & for Stretch, Lou DiBella was MILKING his Middleweight Reign, but Jermain Taylor DOES Have HEART....BOATLOADS of it, N Fact...Dude was CLEARLY GASSED (He's Got that STRANGE, UNexplainable, DelaESQUE Trait of ALWAYS Getting Winded, Whether he's IN SHAPE or Not), yet he Sucked it Up & TRADED w/Froch in the 11th...Taylor LITERALLY Shot his Load N the 11th...& he BRAVELY Took a HELLACIOUS Ass Whipping in the 12th...Bottom Line, Jermain Taylor is a WARRIOR who ISN'T the Least Bit Afraid of Going Out On his Proverbial SHIELD...Can't Say he's Ever Really ROOTED for the Guy, but it's Hard NOT to Like Jermain Taylor, Personally...Dude Made some NICE Money, had a SOLID (if UNspectacular) Career & has Absolutely NATHAN to B Ashamed Of...He Put the State of Arkansas on the "Boxing Map" & he's ALWAYS CLASSY, Win, Lose or Draw...It SUCKS that U Got KO'ed Again, Jermain, but Keep your Head Up, Dog...@ this Point, it's SERIOUSLY Time to Start CONSIDERING Doing Something Else, but REED is 1 Boxing Fan that will Always APPRECIATE the Small Niche U Carved in the Fight Game...God Bless U, Jermain Taylor!!!!..."
(The Visitation @ BoxingScene.com)…
"Sorry, I can't see Froch v. Pavlik being anything other than a Froch win. Surely one thing we have learned about Pavlik is that he belongs at MW, B-Hop didn't only school him, he bossed him, which as Pavlik is unlikely to stop Froch, is all Froch would have to do as well - and he would. I don't think Pavlik would take it.. maybe he might think it worth it if Froch got another belt. Calzaghe has retired. He won't come back for Froch, no matter how much Froch rants on about him. Which is just as well for Froch, IMHO; if Calzaghe has stayed in shape he would 'do a Lacy' on him. Carl needs to go looking for Bute and Kessler.
(Joony @ FightBeat.com)…
"I admit, I did root for Taylor pull this through. but he is what he is, a good athletic fighter w/ limited skills. he simply couldn’t capitalize on all the openings (and they were plenty) and seems to have stamina issues given the pressure."
(DBlaze9 @ BoxingScene.com)…
"Well, Good Reddens to Jermaine Taylor! I always thought he was a bad fighter and now finally he can leave the sport. I always knew that as soon as he started fighting people with real power that he wouldn't be able to handle them. He only did well amongs t other people who liked to box and not slug. I think Edison Miranda would have done the same thing to him...Maybe Allan Green will give him a shot; but in my opinion, he is done!"
(Ch@mpBox@PR @ BoxingScene.com)…
"Froch did good last night, great come from behind Victory. he showed heart and the chin and Power that I was talking about. But his defense is awful, and he is a bit slow. Pavlik vs. Froch should be good, but Calzaghe rapes him and bad!!"
See the fight photos here
