Here's the little commercial spot for the returns of Jermain Taylor and Andre Dirrell on December 30, live on a "special" ShoBox that ain't that special:
Taylor (28-4-1, 17 KO) hasn't fought since he was nastily knocked out by Arthur Abraham in October 2009, so by the time he's back in the ring he will have been gone for 26 months. Some are concerned about his health, but he passed his Nevada physical a couple months back (this fight was set to happen in August originally) and is going back to middleweight with original trainer Pat Burns, a guy he never should have fired in the first place.
I don't have any real issue with Taylor fighting. If he can pass a physical, and it's Nevada and not some fringe commission, then it's up to him, and best of luck to him. I always liked Taylor as a fan; just feel he didn't always get the most out of himself that he could have.
But Andrew Fruman and I were talking about this recently on Twitter, and the two of us have the same question: What's the upside? Say he beats Jessie Nicklow, a club fighter. Then what? Another fight on that level, another two on that level? OK. ... Then what? Another fight at top level where someone blasts him? I mean is there really a long-term future in the 33-year-old former champ at this point? It's highly doubtful.
As for Dirrell (19-1, 13 KO), I'll, uh...pass.
Just curious: Is anyone totally against this card, and do you plan on avoiding it even if you have nothing better to do?