COMPUBOX POST-FIGHT ANALYSIS:
JERMAIN TAYLOR D 12 WINKY WRIGHT

by Joe Carnicelli/Compubox

There must be something about Jermain Taylor that appeals to boxing judges.

It was expected to be a cautious, tactical fight. Both boxers own potent jabs and Wright, a slick left-hander, is regarded as one of the premier defensive fighters in the world. But that went out the window in the first round as Wright pressed the action and Taylor responded with some heavy shots. The tone of the fight was set. Wright outlanded Taylor 14-10 in the opening round but 12 of Wright's connects were jabs and eight of Taylor's connects were power shots.

Wright went on to outland Taylor over the next four rounds, effectively blocking most of Taylor's power shots with his peek-a-boo defensive style and scoring repeatedly with his jab. Taylor controlled the action in the center of the ring and Wright was more effective when he was able to force Taylor back into the ropes.

Through five rounds, Wright had a 109-61 overall connect advantage but 56 of his connects were jabs. Taylor's jab was virtually useless over the first five rounds as he connected on only 13 of 135 but he was impressing the judges by firing hard right hands, some of which slipped through Wright's tight defense and others which stopped Wright in his tracks as they pounded into his gloves.

Wright had his best round of the fight in the fifth when he outlanded Taylor 30-10, connecting on 16 jabs and 14 power shots, but Taylor roared back in the following round by outlanding Wright 23-17, connecting on 14 power shots. The battle remained close down the stretch, with the eighth round going down as perhaps the best of the night. Wright landed 26 punches, including 11 jabs and 15 power shots, and Taylor connected on 22, including 12 power shots and 10 jabs.

The same pattern continued through the closing stages as Wright managed to land more punches but Taylor had the more impressive power shots to catch the judges' attention. Taylor's left eye began to swell badly over the second half of the fight and Wright continued to pepper away effective at it with his right jab.

Neither fighter did much of anything in the final round and Wright's decision to dance around the ring over the final 30 seconds prompted two of the three judges to give Taylor the round. Taylor threw only 37 punches in the final round and Wright got off only 32, the lowest total in the fight for each boxer.

Judge Chuck Giampa of Nevada, who had Taylor ahead 115-113 in one of his fights against Hopkins, scored it the same way for Taylor against Wright. Judge Ray Hawkins of Texas, the only judge to give Wright the final round, had it 115-113 for the challenger and Melvina Latham of New York brought about the draw with a 114-114 card.

Taylor landed 163 of 703 total punches (23 per cent), including 122 of 395 jabs and just 41 of 308 (13 per cent) jabs. Wright connected on 226 of 643 total punches (35 per cent), including 103 of 335 jabs (31 per cent) and 123 of 308 power shots (40 per cent).

Taylor is now 25-0-1 but retains his middleweight title belts. Wright is 50-3-1 and says he is disgusted with the decision and doesn't want a rematch. Don't bet on it not happening. It was too good a fight not to happen again.