Jermain Taylor arrested on domestic violence charges

Jermain Taylor, the 40-year-old former middleweight champion of the world, has had a lot of trouble outside of the ring in recent years, and unfortunately he’s back in the bad news column.

ESPN reports that Taylor has been arrested in Arkansas on charges of domestic battery and assault.

According to a police report, Taylor, 40, allegedly punched a woman and held a knife to her throat. He was arrested at his home at 3:25 p.m. and was booked in Pulaski County jail on charges of third-degree domestic battery and aggravated assault on a family or household member.

Arkansas prosecutors two weeks ago had dropped domestic violence charges against Taylor when his accuser halted contact with authorities.

In 2016, Taylor was given concurrent suspended six-year sentences stemming from a trio of incidents in 2014 and 2015.

Taylor last boxed in 2014, beating Sam Soliman to win the IBF middleweight title, and has a career record of 33-4-1 (20 KO). He upset Bernard Hopkins in 2005 in a controversial decision to become the undisputed middleweight champion, but never quite became the superstar that was envisioned after that victory and one in the rematch. In 2007, he lost to Kelly Pavlik, starting a run of four losses in five fights through 2009. He came back in 2011 and won five fights, which would ultimately close out his career, barring any return to action, which seems unlikely.