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Wednesday, October 25, 2000

Ex-champ Taylor
bad risk in ring

The featured bout on a
Waikiki fight card will be off if
he's deemed unfit to fight

---

By Pat Bigold
Star-Bulletin

A Halloween pro boxing bout featuring former world champion Meldrick Taylor at the Sheraton Waikiki is likely to be shot down because Taylor is widely regarded to be at risk in the ring.

The 34-year-old Pennsylvania native won Olympic gold in 1984, the International Boxing Federation junior welterweight title in 1988, and the World Boxing Association welterweight title in 1991. He is 37-7-1 as a pro.

But since his second loss to Julio Cesar Chavez in 1994, Taylor has been on a downward spiral.

He was banned for life by the New Jersey Athletic Control Board and other state commissioners say they would either refuse or be reluctant to issue him a license.

His last official fight was in September 1999.

"I will not let him fight in Georgia ever again," said Tom Mishou, head of the Georgia State Boxing Commission, in a phone interview yesterday. "I have talked to commissioners all over the country over the telephone and at our national convention. Everyone agrees he should not be allowed back in the ring."

Mishou said he doesn't think Taylor could pass a neurological test.

Marc Ratner of the Nevada commission said Taylor would have to undergo "extensive" testing to fight in his state.

Taylor is tentatively scheduled to fight Bobby Heath (22-8-4), a 30-year-old cake factory employee from Pennsylvania, who won the WBF Intercontinental Welterweight title on Sept. 29 from Tyrone Winckler.

Contacted by the Star-Bulletin, Hawaii State Boxing Commission chairman Ted Candia said last night he will recommend the Taylor bout not be given final approval when his commission meets again on Monday.

Larry Hazzard, the New Jersey commissioner who banned Taylor in April 1998, said in a story by Dave Weinberg of The Press of Atlantic City, he feared for Taylor's well-being.

"I believe his skills have eroded to the point where he should not be permitted to fight again," said Hazzard.

Bernard Fernandez of the Philadelphia Daily News reported last year that Taylor's co-manager, Lou Duva, urged him to retire as long ago as 1992.

Taylor has had a series of legal troubles in recent years and squandered all of the $10 million to $20 million he won in his heyday. He declared Chapter 13 bankruptcy in 1997. Taylor is also on bail for an attempted rape charge in Philadelphia and will be tried Jan. 29.

Also on the card are fights between heavyweights Obed Sullivan, (36-7-0) and Wesley Martin (14-22) of Texas, and welterweights Calvin Green (13-0-1) and Mike Rios (13-12-0).

Rios was placed on the Association of Boxing Commissions Suspension/Disciplinary list by New Jersey on July 15 of this year. But Hawaii Pro Boxing Inc. promoter Ed Presley said last night that Rios' handlers assured him the suspension has been lifted.

In a lightweight contest, Mark Burse (St. Louis) will meet Leroy Price (W. Va.).

Robert Turner, a promoter with the card who said he arranged to include Taylor, said he did not know about the New Jersey ban. Taylor's agent, Harry Barnett, said last night by phone from Atlanta that he didn't know about it, either.

"We don't want anybody to get hurt," said Presley.

"Nobody told me about this stuff. If all this is true, this fight won't take place."