JOHNSTOWN —
Last year, Johnstown’s Andres Taylor boxed in six fights, winning five and finishing in one draw.
The heavy schedule ended a string of nine Taylor fights in just over 13 months from Aug. 1, 2009 through Sept. 11, 2010.
Since then, the World Boxing Foundation All Americas cruiserweight title holder, has patiently waited for his next fight, which will occur on Friday in Philadelphia.
“Because I haven’t fought in six months everybody thought I retired,” said Taylor, who is 16-1-2. “When I had six fights in nine months everybody was saying I was fighting too much. Now I took off six months and everyone thought I retired.”
Taylor hopes to let everyone know he’s back when he meets Rayshawn Myers of Cleveland on KEA Boxing’s “Unfinished Business” card at the Asylum Arena.
Myers, 3-6-0, is a late replacement on the card, but Taylor, 32, said he won’t be distracted by the fact that originally he was supposed to box against a left-hander.
“He’s a conventional fighter,” Taylor said of Myers. “I’ve seen him fight before. He was 3-1 when I was 5-0. We were going to fight, but something happened and we didn’t fight. He was out of it for a while because he broke his hand really bad.
“I’ve seen him fight twice. I have an idea going into this one. This time I was supposed to fight a southpaw but we were training with conventional sparring partners anyway because we couldn’t get any southpaws for sparring. I should be right on schedule for this fight.”
In his last fight on Sept. 11, Taylor fought Garrett Wilson of Cleveland to a draw during a rain-interrupted outdoor event at Johnstown’s Point Stadium.
The original card at the Point had Taylor fighting Paul Jennette for the NABA cruiserweight title. But Jennette, a left-hander, backed out on the eve of the fight – the second time in three months that Jennette cancelled a scheduled bout with Taylor.
The late change seemed to affect Taylor, especially early, when Wilson was the aggressor.
Taylor said he learned from the experience.
“I’m in perfect shape,” he said. “I’m just going to go in there and do my job. I’m in great shape. It’s always going to be a fight. Whoever has two hands when they step in that ring, it’s definitely going to be a fight.”
Even though he didn’t lose the Point Stadium fight in September, Taylor said he is eager to get back in the ring and re-establish the pace he had set throughout 2010.
“I’ve got a lot of motivation,” Taylor said. “To me, it’s like it’s my last chance, even though it’s not my last chance. But that’s how I look at it. I’m getting older. Every year that passes I’m getting older. I’ve got to get out there and do it. I can’t have any setbacks or bumps in the road. I’ve got to keep winning. If I put four wins under my belt I could be looking at a six-figure pay day.”
Notes: Two other prominent names on Friday’s card are Patrick Majewski, a 31-year-old middleweight with a record of 15-0 (10 KOs), of Atlantic City, N.J., by way of Radom, Poland, and Kamil Laszcyk of North Bergen, N.J., by way of Wroclaw, Poland. Laszczyk is 2-0, both knockouts. ... Tickets, are $100 for VIP and $45 for general admission and may be purchased by calling (267) 687-7560. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. with the first fight starting at 8.
What: Andres Taylor vs. Rayshawn Myers.
Division: Cruiserweight.
When: 8 p.m. on Friday.
Where: Asylum Arena, Philadelphia.
In the ring: Johnstown’s Taylor, 16-1-2, is the World Boxing Foundation All Americas cruiserweight champion. ... Cleveland’s Myers is 3-6-0. ... Taylor fought six times in 2010 (5-0-1) and nine times in a 13-month span (8-0-1).
Mets host Banner Day at Citi
Barfly: Analyzing African American QBs
Barfly: Combating Concussions
Barfly: To sue, or not to sue
Stanley Cup Preview: Key Matchups
Kendall: Indy 500 recap
Celtics crush Sixers in Game 7
Montero signs extension
On the Record: Anna Tunnicliffe
Highlights: History 300
NASCAR on FOX: Charlotte preview
Devils head to the Stanley Cup Finals
French Open Preview: Women's draw
French Open Preview: Men's draw
Controversial Show Offers Alternative Listening for Women During Stanley Cup Finals
Tebow Teased by Jets Teammates Over Virginity, Lolo Jones
Jets learn Sparano's offense
1st Inning: Hakeem Nicks
Tweet Talkback: Brandon Jennings
QB Kafka gaining valuable experience
