Jermain Taylor in Review: Ex-Middleweight Champion Who Thinks He’s Dracula
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Heavyweight Iron Mike Tyson and Middleweight Jermain Taylor are former world boxing champions who stand alone in unique category. Both are both respected for boxing ability, and infamous for biting someone. Record keep among pro boxers in this category remains obscure. While Tyson is married and stable and a family man making movie and public appearances, and giving talks about his life, Taylor remains emotionally unstable.
Taylor, 38, has now become the first and only present or former world boxing champion to outdo Tyson in this regard. It happened on Tuesday, July 18, 2017 in Maumelle, Arkansas, when Taylor had an argument with his latest girlfriend in the street. Taylor was charged with felony making terroristic threats for threatening to kill his girlfriend, and misdemeanor battery and interfering with emergency communications, for biting her and preventing her from dialing 911. Taylor got pepper sprayed when he refused to let the woman exit their home. Taylor’s latest brouhaha makes a boxing comeback a longshot.
Taylor was released the same day he was charged in the domestic dispute last week. Taylor, who had stayed clear of trouble for two years, had a 19-year sentence suspended last year provided he stay out of trouble. Taylor’s lawyers, in all likelihood, will try to plea bargain his felony charge down to a misdemeanor on all three counts to avoid having to serve the 19 years, plus whatever else could get tacked on if he goes to trial. Taylor clearly has issues.
Stabbings and shootings among pro boxers involved in domestic disputes are not uncommon, and it all begs the question as to whether cumulative brain damage is the root cause of the emotional disturbances. Repeated incidents seems to prove over time it certainly is a contributing factor. Obviously, not all boxers fit into this category. Some do.
In 2014, Taylor shot his cousin. In 2015, Taylor pointed his gun at a wife and children during a parade. Biting your girlfriend is a wholly different category. It’s absolutely insane.
The greatest dangerous Jermain Taylor remains is to himself. Amateur and professional boxing needs to have a support system in place to evaluate and treat active and retired boxers, regardless of whether they appear injured to any extent or not, and if so, the symptoms are indicative of any decline in brain function. Hockey, football, and soccer parallel in that they are all contact sports who must address the same underlying issues. In the case of Taylor, domestic issues are not every day, but frequent enough to warrant help.
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