There is a new film set for release on Netflix, entitled ‘Fight for ’84.’ One fighter who is sure to be featured in the Jamie Foxx-headed picture is Meldrick Taylor, who won a gold medal at featherweight at the 1984 Olympics the forthcoming film will celebrate.
Taylor, who today celebrates his 60th birthday, has not been in the public eye too much these past few years; the last time he made the headlines was in 2019, when he was involved in a standoff regarding his property.
Sadly, Taylor, who had by then long been suffering from slurred speech and other ailments brought on by the number of punches his too-brave fighting style resulted in, was arrested, his behavior with a gun proving unsettling.
Hopefully, Taylor is at peace today, and is living a nice, quiet life. The man known as “T.N.T” certainly has some fine boxing career to look back on; even if his is a ring career that is largely defined by one fight.
Taylor, who displayed real brilliance in the ring and who dazzled fight fans in the 1980s and ’90s, possessed super-fast hands – arguably the fastest hands ever seen by a light-welterweight/welterweight. Taylor of Philly seemed headed for sure greatness.
Today, however, Taylor is known for one fight above all others, and it is a fight he lost. Mention Meldrick’s name today, and it’s nigh on impossible not to think about his epic 1990 battle with Julio Cesar Chavez. It was brutal, it was punishing, it was controversial. Both men were in their prime, and the fight that took place in Las Vegas on March 17th of 1990 was unforgettable.
Mexican warrior Chavez, unbeaten at 68-0 at the time, was behind on points, and Taylor, who was also unbeaten at 24-0-1, needed only to make it to the final bell in order to win. But somehow, in a scene that would have been looked at as too unrealistic for a ‘Rocky’ movie, Chavez came back to stop Taylor with just two seconds left in the fight.
Much has been written over the years about whether or not referee Richard Steele made the right call in that 12th and final round. Yet today, sadly, Taylor is unable to hide the effects his tough career had on him. Badly slurred speech might not be the worst of Meldrick’s health problems. But despite the fact that too many wars caught up with him, Taylor, in the opinion of some, should have been allowed to carry on for those final two seconds; if he had been allowed to continue, victory would indeed have been his.
Instead, Taylor is forever known as a potentially great fighter who was “two seconds from glory.” Taylor, though best known for his Chavez heartbreak, defeated some superb fighters during his peak years: Buddy McGirt (twice), Aaron Davis, Glenwood Brown, and others. And we must remember that Taylor was a two-weight world champion, having won titles at light-welterweight and at welterweight.
Taylor, who plenty of fans argue should be in the International Boxing Hall of Fame, fought on too long, with him losing to veritable no-names at the end of his career. Meldrick exited the ring in July of 2002, with a 38-8-1(20) record.
Wherever he is today, let’s hope Taylor can celebrate his 60th birthday.