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CNN Sunday Morning

Should Meldrick Taylor Retire?

Aired June 02, 2002 - 10:15   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: At 39, Evander Holyfield is still fighting and winning, but there are whispers that he should quit while he's ahead. Similar is the story of former champ, Meldrick Taylor. At age 35, he's still looking to prove to others that he's still got it. CNN's Bob Fiscella has that story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BOB FISCELLA, CNNSI CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At the tender age of 17, Meldrick Taylor won a Gold Medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics. He went on to a successful pro career, which included two world titles. In 1990, he fought an undefeated Julio Cesar Chavez in a 12-round bout, which Taylor lost by a technical knockout. His career was never the same.

Now, at the age of 35, Taylor is still fighting when many believe he should have retired years ago.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And the winner by a TKO, and the brand-new, International Boxing Federal (UNINTELLIGIBLE) champion, Meldrick "TNT" Taylor.

MELDRICK TAYLOR, BOXER: This is the ultimate. (UNINTELLIGIBLE). It was my springboard to the professionals, and I proved to all the critics and everybody that I'm for real.

You can't say anything about me and my career, I shouldn't be fighting no more, and it's true. I want to prove that I'm still the same fighter I was, was about back in '92 when I was champion. I am anxious to prove myself, prove that I'm not washed up.

JIMMY LOGAN, BOXING PROMOTER: There has been a lot of questions raised concerning his health. It is simply just a speech impediment. I've seen this guy work in the gym. You look at him, he's in better shape now than he was 10 years ago in his prime, you know?

TAYLOR: My hands and my feet is what I need. And my brain, and my brain is OK, too. I think well. Understand? I'm coherent. So my speech doesn't -- should not stop me from being a fighter.

LOGAN: If you even go back and look at him before he fought Chavez back in '90 and watch the interviews, you would notice then there was a little speech impediment problem then in those fights. TOM MISHOU, GEORGIA BOXING COMMISSIONER: I've got of two my five commissioners who knew Mr. Taylor when he was an amateur, were actually there in Los Angeles when he was on the Olympic team. And they tell me he didn't have slurred speech back then.

TAYLOR: I'm kind of completely satisfied with this win, and I can't be upset about the win. It was tough (UNINTELLIGIBLE) learn a lot each fight I have. And you know, this guy helped me prove myself more and more.

I don't understand why people make comments that I should retire because it's never been proven that I should retire.

FISCELLA: Suspecting possible head trauma, the New Jersey Boxing Commission will not issue a license to Taylor, and he has refused to submit to neurological testing in other states.

MISHOU: We all know that boxers will continue fighting long after they should stop.

TAYLOR: Everybody has an opinion. But it's not his decision for me to fight. It's my decision. My self-determination.

MISHOU: It probably is a pretty good case study for the total worst-case scenario of what can happen in boxing.

TAYLOR: I still have the ability and the skills to be champion. And I haven't lost anything. I haven't lost my speed. I haven't lost anything.

FISCELLA: Taylor won his latest fight Friday night in Birmingham, Alabama in a split decision over Dylan Koru (ph), who hadn't fought in a year. It was Taylor's first bout in more than two and a half years. Because Alabama doesn't have a boxing commission, an official from Louisiana came in to supervise the fight. He stated that although Taylor was checked out by a Birmingham physician, Louisiana was going to suspend Taylor after the fight and require further testing before he fights again.

I'm Bob Fiscella, CNN Sports.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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