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Top guy, or just gettin' by?

Jermain Taylor, 29, was once the hottest middleweight in the world. A former Olympian, he rose through the ranks by knocking flat anyone put in front of him.

By JOHN C. COTEY
Published September 26, 2007

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Jermain Taylor, 29, was once the hottest middleweight in the world. A former Olympian, he rose through the ranks by knocking flat anyone put in front of him. He still hasn't suffered a beatdown (27-0-1, 17 KO's), but his once formidable reputation has, heading into Saturday's fight against Kelly Pavlik (31-0, 28 KO's). ¶ In fact, recently he kind of reminds us of a college football team that is highly ranked to start the season (think Michigan, maybe Notre Dame), then goes through a series of close, ugly games against opponents it should be overwhelming (think Wisconsin, which has deservedly dropped twice in the poll despite winning). After all, needing a last-second score to beat, say, Nevada-Las Vegas or struggling past the Citadel is kind of like needing the 12th round to beat, say, Cory Spinks.e_SClB Fight / the result Thecontroversy If it were a college football game BCS rankings fallout Taylor beats Hopkins I

Hopkins' long reign over the middleweight division comes to an end, but barely.

Hopkins looks very happy after the fight. Taylor looks very sad. But the judges turn his frown upside down with a decision that is still being debated. Taylor University would have been ranked No. 8 and been a slight underdog to No. 1 Hopkins State because of homefield advantage. Taylor University jumps out to a 28-7 halftime lead on a number of turnovers by Hopkins, which gains just 45 yards in the first half. But the Philadelphia school rallies to make it 28-27 with :28 remaining, then goes for two before a pair of conversions are wiped out by penalties and lead to a failed kick. No. 6 Moves up just a few spots to No. 6 because after building halftime lead, does absolutely nothing. Fans aren't convinced and think if the game had gone into overtime, Taylor would not have survived. Taylor beats Hopkins II

Taylor wins again, this time a little more decisively. But just a little.

See Taylor-Hopkins I. The schools battle to a virtual draw through three quarters, and at 3-3 it's anyone's game. A dreadfully boring contest, no one crosses midfield in the fourth quarter until three minutes remain and Taylor fumbles the ball forward 20 yards. A desperation field goal a few plays later is good from 48 yards, and Hopkins' comeback stalls with three incomplete passes. No. 5 Taylor gets to No. 5 with the win, though fans vow to stop watching unless the action picks up. Taylor draws with Winky Wright

What's new - a debatable decision that remains good bar room fodder.

Taylor gets a gift draw. Most ringside observers had this as his first career loss. By most, we mean all but two. Winky Tech comes in ranked No. 3, but the senior-laden squad is considered prime upset material for the younger crew at Taylor U. But a savvy senior crew is eating up clock, driving the ball downfield, scoring, and it's 28-17 late. The referees award an onside kick to Taylor U., though replays clearly show it was recovered by Winky Tech. A pass interference sets up a short field goal to make it 28-20. Winky Tech tries to run out the clock, but two holding calls and a delay of game mean it has to punt out of its end zone. As time runs out, Taylor U. returns the kick for a touchdown as two referees inadvertently trip a pair of would-be tacklers. The two-point conversion is good, but two referees are injured, the game can't go on and is ruled a tie. No. 9 Taylor drops to No. 9. Clearly, the team is a year or two away from being able to handle the top teams. Taylor beats Kassim Ouma

Taylor pounds out a unanimous decision.

Hometown crowd boos, asks for money back and wants to know where the real Taylor is. Ouma College, a Division I-AA school, moves the ball up and down the field with relative ease but can't score. Taylor U. is even worse, playing for field position and punting 11 times. Eventually, Taylor gets two touchdowns and wins 12-0, but fans litter the field with foam fingers. No. 11 Wow. Can't knock out a smaller I-AA school that was averaging 200 yards and six points? Enjoy that No. 11 ranking. Taylor beats Cory Spinks

Another decision that makes you want to gouge your eyes out.

One judge has it for Spinks. The others, however, have it correctly for Taylor. The media criticize scheduling back-to-back I-AA opponents, but this one has a nonexistent offense that suddenly finds a passing game. The Spinks State quarterback comes in with a 23.7 passer rating but gets the first 300-yard game of his career. But two fumbles on controversial calls lead to a pair of short Taylor U. scores in a 14-9 win. Earlier that afternoon, Taylor's conference rival, Pavlik State, beats Edison University 68-0, causing most of the media to declare it the best team in the conference. No. 13 Ouma and Spinks hang in there until the end? Taylor falls to No.13. Fans are calling for the coach, Emanuel Steward, to be fired. Taylor vs. Pavlik

Saturday

The guess: Taylor wins

Of course there will be one. Three words - Lee Corso, baby! Winner is conference champ. Loser goes to the Everlast Bowl at Mohegan Sun. Taylor, who is moving up to super-middleweight after this fight, can leave the 160-pound division as the best of his three-year run. Or, he can go down as a pampered paper champion who benefited more from the judges than his own talents.

[Last modified September 25, 2007, 23:20:59]