To hear all of what Meldrick Taylor and his agent Gumersindo Vidot have to say, listen to the 8countnews.com podcast.
Articles have been written and documentaries have been produced about former two division world champion Meldrick Taylor. However, often times they have lacked any recollection from Taylor himself.
That’s not the case with Taylor’s new autobiography 2 Seconds From Glory: The Unadulterated Truth and Real Account.
“The writers and all websites you see on Meldrick Taylor…it’s always the same thing.” Said Gumersindo Vidot, Taylor’s agent.
He added, “Meldrick Taylor’s book finally puts everything in perspective.”
The title of the book is a reference to Taylor’s controversial loss to Mexican legend Julio Cesar Chavez in their 1990 junior welterweight title fight. Taylor, ahead on points on two of the three official scorecards, was stopped with two seconds remaining in the fight.
“That fight has had so much impact on my life”, Taylor said in an interview with 8countnews.com
Despite the bout taking place almost 20 years ago, the fight is still discussed among boxing fans and the outcome still debated. In 2003, HBO produced a documentary style look at the fight for its ‘Legendary Nights’ series.
The referee who stopped the contest with just seconds remaining was Richard Steele. Accusations had been hurled at Steele prior to, and after the fight, about allegedly showing favoritism to boxers promoted by Don King. King was Chavez’s promoter at the time of the Taylor fight.
“I believe that they made an agreement”, Taylor said, confirming his belief in the theory.
His agent Vidot explained, “Suspicion is still there.”
He then recalled a circumstance prior to the Chavez – Taylor fight when Steele officiated a bout between Iran Barkley and Thomas Hearns.
“Tommy Hearns was practically half conscious walking through the ring after he got hit by Iran Barkley…. and Richard Steele, what he did was, he practically picked him off the ground and helped him clean his gloves and let him continue when everybody knew the fight should’ve been stopped.”
The fight was eventually stopped with Barkley earning a TKO. Steele has been quoted saying he gave Hearns a chance to continue after being initially hurt because he was the defending champion.
“This is not consistent with Meldrick Taylor”, Vidot continued.
The allegations about the Steele – King connection have been around for years. One new allegation coming from this book is that Taylor is still owed money from Don King for the fight with Chavez.
“At least 2 million dollars he owes me for that fight”, Taylor said.
His agent added, “It’s very difficult for you to actually go back 20 years later and try to claim anything. But are we pursuing it? Sure we are.”
Though the title of the book is about Taylor’s fight with Chavez, the book chronicles his entire career, including his gold medal performance at the 1984 Olympics and 1988 title winning effort over Buddy McGirt.
“The Olympic gold medal was my pride & joy”, Taylor recalls.
Many believe that Taylor was never the same fighter after the Chavez fight. However, less than a year later Taylor would move up to the welterweight division and outpoint Aaron Davis to win a world title in his 2nd weight division.
He did lose a 1994 rematch with Chavez, being TKO’d in the 8th round without controversy. He would also unsuccessfully challenge for a junior middleweight title in 1992, getting stopped within four rounds by Terry Norris.
In reference to the HBO ‘Legendary Nights” episode done on Chavez – Taylor, neither Taylor nor Vidot were entirely pleased.
“They made him look like he was finished and done with. And he proved that was not the case.” said Vidot, in reference to the Davis victory the following year.
“They should have interviewed me”, said Taylor.
HBO did show footage of Taylor talking in the final minutes of the episode. His speech was noticeably slurred and when showing an interview with him conducted in 1990, followed by a clip of him speaking in 2002, it was clear that the brutal fights he participated in took its toll on his body and brain.
“Boxers receive blows every time they go into the ring. It’s like dripping water. And you get hit and get it. 95% of fighters reap some damage, whether it be brain damage or something”, said Vidot, telling a sad part of the sport.
The ‘Legendary Nights’ episode also showed footage of Taylor fighting in 2002. By then, his skills were a far cry from what they had been in his prime. His speech was slurred enough to lead many to feel Taylor shouldn’t have been allowed to box. Still, Taylor fought twice this decade in Alabama and Minnesota. Both bouts took place in 2002.
Nowadays, Taylor is living and working in his hometown of Philadelphia. He still works with fighters and helps get people into good physical shape as a personal trainer.
“I have my own business so that’s coming along real well”, said Taylor, “I make a good living doing that also”
He doesn’t hesitate to do radio interviews or TV interviews despite his slurred speech nor is he discouraged from doing so. Aside from appearing in a podcast on 8countnews.com, Taylor has recently made appearances on Comcast Sportsnet Philadelphia and NBC 10 in Philadelphia.
This weekend, he’ll be signing copies of his book on induction weekend at the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Later this fall he hopes to reunite with members of the 1984 U.S. Olympic boxing team to celebrate the 25th anniversary of them capturing nine gold medals.
He also has his own website – www.meldricktaylor.com – were his book can be purchased. The site also includes information on brain injuries and information on how to schedule Taylor for an appearance.
“I believe my legacy will be a fighter that entertained the people, had a lot of heart and fought the best”, said Taylor.
With this book, Taylor hopes he will not be forgotten.
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