Meldrick Taylor (born October 19, 1966) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1984 to 2002. He held world championships in two weight classes, including the IBF junior welterweight title from 1988 to 1990, and the WBA welterweight title from 1991 to 1992. As an amateur, Taylor won a gold medal in the featherweight division at the 1984 Summer Olympics.

Amateur career Taylor, one of many boxing champions hailing from the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, learned his craft in the gyms of his hometown and posted a 99–4 record as an amateur fighter. In 1984, Taylor earned a spot on the 1984 U.S. Olympic team at the age of 17, and claimed the gold medal in the featherweight division. Following his victory, he joined the professional ranks.

1984 Olympic results Round of 64: Round of 32: Defeated Nicolae Talpos (Romania) 5-0 Round of 16: Defeated Francisco Camacho (Mexico) 5-0 Quarterfinal: Defeated John Wanjau (Kenya) referee stopped contest in the third round Semifinal: Defeated Omar Catari (Venezuela) 5-0 Final: Defeated Peter Konyegwachie (Nigeria) 5-0 (won gold medal)

In the American Olympic trials Taylor lost to Andrew Minsker, who then went on to win the trials. However, Taylor beat Minsker twice back to back to earn the spot in the Olympic box-offs.

Professional career His early fights were against nondescript journeymen, but in his 12th fight, in May 1986, Taylor won a unanimous decision against fellow contender Harold Brazier and moved into the world rankings. On September 3, 1988, Taylor faced James (Buddy) McGirt for the IBF light welterweight title. He defeated McGirt by a technical knockout (TKO) in the 12th and final round to begin his first title reign.

Taylor vs. Chávez

Over the next 18 months, Taylor won four more fights, setting up a unification bout with the WBC light welterweight champion Julio César Chávez on March 17, 1990 in Las Vegas. Chavez had an aura of invincibility, he was considered the best fighter pound for pound in the world and also one of the most dangerous fighters in the sport. This fight drew huge media attention, as both men came in unbeaten (Taylor at 24-0-1 and Chávez at 66-0), and regarded as two of the best boxers in the world, regardless of weight class. Their fight was one of the most famous and controversial bouts in boxing history.

Taylor took control of the action early and began to build up a lead on the scorecards. However, Chávez proved to be a heavier puncher, and was slowly wearing Taylor down even as he lost rounds. Going to the 12th and final round, Taylor led by wide margins on two of the three scorecards, and his corner famously told him that he needed to win that round. Because of this, Taylor chose to continue fighting at close quarters with the hard-hitting Mexican champion. Chávez, realizing time was running out, came at Taylor aggressively in the last round. With 17 seconds left in the fight, Chávez floored Taylor. Taylor beat the 10-count and got back to his feet at six. Referee Richard Steele twice asked Taylor, "Are you ok?" Taylor did not respond and only looked at his corner. Steele waved the fight off with just two seconds left, awarding Chávez a win by TKO.

The controversy surrounding the stoppage continues to this day, and 10 years later, The Ring proclaimed it the "Fight of the Decade".

Many boxing fans believe that Taylor was essentially 'ruined' as a fighter because of this bout—due in part to the tremendous punishment taken at the hands of Chavez, including several fractures and some kidney damage (according to the HBO "Legendary Nights" episode mentioned before, he was taken to the hospital immediately after the Chavez bout—reportedly urinating blood.)

WBA welterweight champion and rematch with Chávez

Taylor had lost his title, but not his desire. Feeling that having to make the 140 pound (64 kg) weight had weakened him against Chavez, Taylor moved up to welterweight (147 pounds) and decisioned undefeated Aaron Davis for the WBA welterweight title on January 19, 1991. He issued a challenge to Chávez for a rematch at 147 pounds, but the latter wouldn't move up in weight for many years. Taylor won three more fights before issuing a challenge to world junior middleweight champion Terry Norris to fight for Norris' WBC title. Norris, a naturally bigger and stronger man, knocked Taylor out in the fourth round.

This marked the end of Taylor's career as a world-class fighter; he lost the welterweight crown to undefeated challenger Crisanto España in his next fight on Halloween night in 1992. Taylor won his following three fights, including a second-round knockout over number four ranked welterweight Chad Broussard. He got one more title shot, against Chávez on September 17, 1994 in Las Vegas, but, years removed from his prime, he was stopped by Chávez in the eighth round. The fight was competitive, with Taylor getting off to a fast start. But after a brutal sixth round, Taylor's legs became rubbery and he was stopped 2 rounds later. Taylor was suspended by The State Athletic Commission in 1997 for failing to appear at a bout in Altoona, PA. It was scheduled for April 6, 1997 against 18-0 Ken Sigurani In a 10-round welterweight event.

He fought off and on over the next couple of years, winning some fights and losing others, before retiring in 2002. He finished with a record of 38-8-1, (20 KOs).

During an episode of HBO's "Legendary Nights" in 2003, an interview with Taylor was shown, in which his speech was very slurred and difficult to understand. Many viewers were shocked and disturbed when they heard the way Taylor now speaks. Indeed, the episode implicitly attributed this to pugilistic dementia—mentioning, time and again, how Taylor was well past his prime as a fighter.

Meldrick Taylor has written his autobiography, titled Two Seconds From Glory.

2019 arrest Meldrick Taylor was arrested on Tuesday, June 4, 2019 in North Philadelphia morning after he allegedly threatened a man with a gun and engaged in a 90-minute standoff with police at his residence. Taylor was charged with aggravated assault, possession of an instrument of crime and terroristic threats. He was later released on an unsecured bond.

Personal Meldrick Taylor has a twin brother, Eldrick, who was also briefly a professional boxer. Eldrick Taylor compiled a record of 0 wins and 1 loss. Another brother, Myron, competed as a professional boxer as well. Myron Taylor had a record of 29 wins (16 by knockout), 9 losses and one draw (tie), and who once challenged for a world title.

Professional boxing record

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes47Loss Wayne MartellUD10Jul 20, 2002 46Win38–7–1 Dillon CarewSD8May 31, 2002 45Win37–7–1 Manuel De LeonUD8Sep 10, 1999 44Win36–7–1 Tim ScottTKO3Aug 26, 1999 43Loss35–7–1 Quirino GarciaUD12Feb 26, 1999 42Loss35–6–1 Hasan AlUD10Aug 28, 1998 41Win35–5–1 Rafael SalasUD6Aug 6, 1998 40Loss34–5–1 Darren MaciunskiSD10Nov 26, 1996 39Win34–4–1 Tommy SmallUD10Oct 10, 1996 38Win33–4–1 Kenneth KiddTKO1 (10), Aug 16, 1996 37Loss32–4–1 Julio César ChávezTKO8 (12), Sep 17, 1994 36Win32–3–1 Chad BroussardKO2 (10), May 7, 1994 35Win31–3–1 Craig HoukKO3 (10), Jan 29, 1994 34Win30–3–1 Henry HughesRTD2 (10), May 8, 1993 33Loss29–3–1 Crisanto EspañaTKO8 (12), Oct 31, 1992 32Loss29–2–1 Terry NorrisTKO4 (12), May 9, 1992 31Win29–1–1 Glenwood BrownUD12Jan 18, 1992 30Win28–1–1 Ernie ChavezTKO6 (10), Sep 13, 1991 29Win27–1–1 Luis Garcia12Jun 1, 1991 28Win26–1–1 Aaron DavisUD12Jan 19, 1991 27Win25–1–1 Primo RamosUD10Aug 11, 1990 26Loss24–1–1 Julio César ChávezTKO12 (12), Mar 17, 1990 25Win24–0–1 Ramon FloresTKO1 (10), Jan 27, 1990 24Win23–0–1 Jaime BalboaTKO5 (10), Nov 20, 1989 23Win22–0–1 Courtney HooperUD12Sep 11, 1989 22Win21–0–1 John Wesley Meekins7 (12), Jan 21, 1989 21Win20–0–1 Buddy McGirtTKO12 (12), Sep 3, 1988 20Win19–0–1 Martin QuirozUD10Jun 12, 1988 19Win18–0–1 Ivan GonzalezTKO5 (10), Apr 9, 1988 18Win17–0–1 Richard FowlerKO2 (10), Nov 4, 1987 17Win16–0–1 Irleis PerezUD10Jul 11, 1987 16Win15–0–1 Primo RamosUD10Apr 19, 1987 15Win14–0–1 Roque MontoyaUD10Feb 6, 1987 14Win13–0–1 Danny VargasTKO2 (10), Dec 11, 1986 13Draw12–0–1 Howard Davis Jr.10Aug 16, 1986 12Win12–0 Harold BrazierUD10May 11, 1986 11Win11–0 Jose RiveraTKO6 (10), Apr 3, 1986 10Win10–0 Robin BlakeUD10Feb 2, 1986 9Win9–0 Victor AcostaUD8Dec 21, 1985 8Win8–0 Carlos SantanaKO4 (8), Oct 16, 1985 7Win7–0 Roberto MedinaUD6Jul 20, 1985 6Win6–0 Hugo CarrizoTKO3Jun 29, 1985 5Win5–0 Nery Reyes1 (6), May 17, 1985 4Win4–0 Elias MartinezTKO5 (6)Apr 6, 1985 3Win3–0 Darrell CurtisTKO3 (6), Mar 13, 1985 2Win2–0 Dwight Pratchett6Jan 20, 1985 1Win1–0 Luke Lecce1 (6), Nov 15, 1984

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