[DrWise]

Jermain Taylor will make another defence of his WBO and WBC middleweight belts this Saturday in Memphis against Cory Spinks.

Spinks is a former welterweight and current light-middleweight champion who is now stepping up to another weight division to face Taylor.

At 3½ inches shorter and a year older, Spinks has fought 12 more pro fights than his opponent. The son of Leon and nephew of Michael (both former heavyweight champions), Cory is a southpaw boxer who likes to use his skills and footwork to avoid shots and pick his opponents off.

He has won two fights and picked up a title belt since his knockout loss to Zab Judah in February 2005 so he is looking to impress the fans and media with a win over Taylor this weekend.

Taylor doesn't have much experience with a record of only 26-0-1 (17 ko's) and at this point in his young career would normally be still learning his craft.

But he already holds two big wins against Bernard Hopkins in back-to-back fights in 2005 but has he improved since those wins or has he already peaked?



Taylor: has he peaked?
The last two fights Taylor fought were against naturally smaller men.

He got a draw against former light-middleweight champ Ronald 'Winky' Wright and a win over another, Kassim Ouma. Taylor didn't use his strength and punch power to control the fights and at time he struggled against both fighters.

Taylor tends to drop his left hand to below his waist and looks for one big right hand to finish the fight.

He has many more skills than he has used in his last few outings so he needs to go back to basics and get his left jab working again and then throw straight right hands.

In this fight with Spinks, Taylor has to take control immediately at the opening bell. He should use his reach and height advantage to make his counter punching opponent move mostly to his left so he can land his rights.

Body shots and straight rights can work well against the southpaw Spinks and then left hooks over the top to the chin will keep things going Taylor's way.


WHO DYA THINK WILL WIN IT?