Taylor suffers agony of defeat against Froch in a thriller

If you were looking for a high magnitude fight that illustrates the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat then this fight was for you as Carl Froch snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in a scintillating KO in the final seconds of their pitched battle for Froch’s WBC super middleweight crown at the Foxwoods Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut on Saturday night.

Former undisputed middleweight champion Jermain Taylor was looking to make a brutal KO loss to Kelly Pavlik two years ago a distant memory but this fight ended up like déjà vous all over again.

Taylor started off the match in fine fashion as he was able to beat Froch to the punch. Taylor looked speedy and strong. His recent reluctance to let his hands go was gone. He dropped Froch with a solid overhand right high on the head in the 3^rd round and was enjoying a big early lead on the cards.

Taylor continued to mostly get the better of things in the early and middle rounds but Froch wasn’t about to abandon the fight. Froch did seem confounded by Taylor’s natural speed but he kept up a slow, steady pressure that subtly began to sap Taylor’s energy and perhaps his will.

Taylor would often answer effectively to anything Froch did but he simply wasn’t able to discourage Froch too much. While Taylor landed a clean uppercut to end the eight round, Froch still seemed the fresher man as the boxers returned to their corners.

In the last third of the fight Froch began to take command but Taylor being the warrior that he is would always answer with something hard. Taylor had a somewhat ragged 11^th round but still landed some heavy leather late in the round.

It was apparent to me that Taylor was tired but I certain didn’t see it as a sure thing that the wheels were going to completely fall off the bus in the next round.  Even as much as halfway through the final round, Taylor appeared like he was going to see the final bell.  But Taylor’s fatigue met a perfectly timed right hand by Froch that was the beginning of the end.

Once Taylor’s legs badly buckled that was all Frock had to see. He went after Taylor like he has committed a crime against a loved one. He kept pounding the brave but dimming Taylor until a right hand left Taylor supine in a corner, with an arm draped over a rope. It was eerily similar to Taylors’ collapse against Pavlik.

Taylor had a glazed, stunned look but rose to his feet to receive his final dose of punishment. And Froch doled that out with abandon until Taylor was out on his feet and helpless forcing the ref to intercede with just 14 seconds left.

The stoppage was correct because he was completely defenseless and would have taken savage, possibly life changing  punches.I picked Froch to win and was pleased in that regard but I couldn’t help but feel horribly for Taylor. His disappointment was apparent and watching someone put it all that out there to come up short in that way tugged at my heartstrings. Even though I handicap fights devoid of emotion, Taylor’s visage at the and was hard to watch.  What can I say, I’m a softie.

Taylor wanted to get back to top so badly and to have it snatched away so late in the fight was painful to watch. It probably would have been much easier for him to accept if he was blown away early in the fight. But momentum shifts and instant changes of fortune are what make boxing the great sport it is. All sports have that ingredient but with boxing it is much more personal and heartfelt as only the boxer himself is actually involved in the experience. And they are all alone and on display for the world to see.

Still, Taylor made great money and was a world champion so that, hopefully, will sooth the pain of this very tough loss. Taylor does seem like one of the good guys in the sport and in my view it’s time for him to let it go. I thought he was slightly slurred in his interview after that fight and I don’t think that will get better if he soldiers on. I hope he retires.

Froch put on an excellent display of his grit and character as he just wasn’t going to be denied. He is a very strong super middleweight and will be a tough night for anybody. He’s unorthodox but he has a unique skill set, is super tough and well conditioned to go along with his strength.

Froch called out Calzaghe after the fight but I have a feeling Joe won’t bite on that. But that’s ok.  This division is replete with compelling opponents for Mr. Froch. And good fights could be made with Allen Green, who scored a brutal KO on this card, Andre Dirrell and Andre Ward et al. But the fight I would love to see is Froch against the La Habra tough guy Librado Andrade.  

I think they would make for compelling fight between two very tough, offensive minded fighters. My pick in that one; Andrade – I think he’s simply too rugged even for the steely Froch.