When you look at Jermain Taylor, you resent him because within that “special package” lurks something brilliant, yet ordinary. Something we don’t want to admit is at a premium in an age when due process is often resented by the young. That “something” is Character. He’s just simply a tough SOB; if he were anything less, he’d have joined the ranks of exposed Olympians two years ago. That is why despite being the undisputed middleweight champion of the world we have christened him the most “beatable” elite fighter in boxing. We have to do something to explain why he can be so fundamentally flawed and still give elite fighters hell.

When the Arkansas native laced them up in his  fights against Bernard Hopkins, (2) and Winky Wright, (1)  he knew what he was up against. No matter what observers felt, the outcomes were he fared better than most “media creations” are supposed to. Edison Miranda at this lofty position of “tough guy of the moment” could not have generated a better outcome against the two crafty future “H.O.F.s”. Yet somehow “Bitter Bernard” -who had every opportunity to give Taylor a sound beating (and couldn’t)- can anoint Miranda? I know, I know, the Olympic pedigree and $1.2 million signing bonus; the “way” Taylor has been “moved” are all points of resistance for fans, but ponder this. Bernard Hopkins anointing Edison Miranda is like an ex-girlfriend that you dumped (for being crazy) having the final say in who you marry. It isn’t fair and it lends too much credibility to someone who shouldn’t have a say.

Enter Corey Spinks, another fighter who despite all the ridicule nobody can seem to blow out. On May 19th the safety first southpaw will try to use guile and ring intelligence to beat the southern fried scrapper. Many give the natural welterweight no chance due to feather-fist and a chin once dented by Zab Judah. But somewhere in the back brain of those of us who deem Taylor “beatable” there’s a hope that he’ll finally pay for his poor balance. That way we can minimize what he’s accomplished thus far, put him in the over-hyped file and truly begin the love affair with Miranda.

Man, I hate to be the one to tell you fight fans (no I don’t) but there’s no chance. Miranda vs. Pavlik will be the fight of the night for obvious reasons but the winner will be served up to JT as raw meat. Know why? There’s not a 160 pounder in the world that can “impose” his will on Jermain Taylor. I didn’t say compete, I didn’t say “hang with” or outpoint, I said impose his will, because that’s the only way you beat this good ole country boy. His jab is too good for Miranda, he’s too tough for Kelly Pavlik and there is a “reason” Winky Wright priced himself out of a second fight. A second fight with Taylor would have put five years on Wright and he wanted to get paid for the aging. There is a reason Sergio Mora started griping about location, because he knew where he was about to be relocated to- the canvas. Trust me, if the “Contender” shows up May 19th to call Jermain out, he’ll do it from a good 50 yards away.

Jermain Taylor will never be cool enough to be “technically sound” (sorry Manny) but if you start an exchange you best believe he’ll finish it. We need to divorce ourselves from the notion that he’ll ever be a smooth boxer/puncher because he’s a fighter. Fighters aren’t interested in style points, they get too riled up in there to keep form. That character trait is vital and can’t be taught; he walked in the gym with that. My mother is a southern woman; she raised me not to be worried about winning or losing a fight-but to be “willing”. Jermain Taylor is “willing”and that, boxing fans, (whether you like it or not) makes him far from “beatable” in my eyes.

Under UFC rules Floyd would get his knees (sorry Dana not his head) torn off, under boxing rules Sherk would end up looking at his handlers asking what happened. Floyd probably made his comment while counting 100’s and he spoke a bit too soon. The UFC just inked a deal to broadcast fights on HBO this summer and success will drive up the fighters' purses.

Miguel Cotto may have picked the wrong guy in Zab Judah. Zab is a notoriously fast starter while Cotto is a slow burner. Fights where both fighters are “all wrong” for one another are all right by me.

There are reports that Oscar De La Hoya engages in “non ejaculatory” sex with his wife as a part of his training regimen…. Damn this fight is big!

Roy Jones is still haggling, now with 168 lbs. champ Joe Calzaghe. Sugar Ray Robinson accepted lower purses in his declining years as well as Ezzard Charles, yet Roy still insist on dictating terms to champions.

Showtime, if you “love” Chico Corrales so much you’ll give him a job.