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Jermain Taylor wins split decision in Memphis

20/05/2007

US WBC middleweight champion Jermain Taylor successfully defended his title last night in a split-decision victory over challenger Cory Spinks in Memphis.

The 28-year-old Arkansas-born star triumphed in his 27 bout out of 28 despite rarely managing to threaten his elusive opponent.

Champion since a narrow defeat to Bernard Hopkins in the summer of 2005, Taylor said of his southpaw opponent: "He ran the whole time. I couldn't get my punches right."

He added of the IBF junior middleweight champ, who was stepping up in weight for the contest: "You can't take a championship running. You want to beat the champ, fight the champ."

Despite maintaining that he had won, the 28-year-old Spinks, son of former heavyweight champion Leon who famously defeated Muhammad Ali in 1978, was favoured by just one of the judges (117-111).

Taylor, who is being lined up to face the unbeaten Kelly Pavlik in his next fight, said that he was happy to fight "anybody".

Last month, WBO supper middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe's manager was rumoured to be setting up a £3 million deal for the 35-year-old Welsh southpaw and Taylor to meet in a British ring in July.


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