Taylor Retains Title with Draw

Undefeated Jermain Taylor (25-0-1) has retained his middleweight title with a three-way split decision draw against Ronald "Winky" Wright (50-3-1). The fight was action-packed throughout with many close rounds that could have been scored either way. Taylor was generally the aggressor, throwing more punches (703 to 643) and fighting more effectively in the center of the ring. Wright was more accurate with his punches, landing more punches (226 to 163) - especially jabs (103 to 41) - and dominating the action along the ropes.

Taylor's left eye began to swell badly in the ninth round after an accidental clash of heads and it seemed to affect his vision down the stretch. Wright suffered swelling around both eyes but it did not appear to impact his vision. After eleven rounds, it would have been hard to argue that either fighter was clearly ahead on points. Yet Wright - apparently feeling that he already had the fight won - danced away the final frame and lost the round on two-of-three judges' cards. Scores were 115-113 Taylor, 115-113 Wright and 114-114 even.

Wright - feeling he had been robbed - bolted from the ring as soon as the decision was announced. Classy move Winky. When Larry Merchant finally tracked him down in his dressing roon, Wright claimed "I don't want no rematch. If I have to come here to get that kind of decision, there's no point." Perhaps once Wright watches a tape of the fight - and cashes his check for $3.5 million - he'll reconsider.

Draws are rarely satisfying but in this case it seemed an entirely reasonable verdict.