He turned professional August 13, 1986, stopping John Robinson who could not continue after 3 rounds at the Forum in Inglewood, California. Notice was served that this was a middleweight prospecct to watch.
Quincy ran off a string of wins, starting his career at 10-0 with 9 knockouts, defeating 3 undefeated fellow prospects in that stretch. He was gaining a reputation as a knockout artist and was ready to be stepped-up to a high level.
At 10-0 he was put in against another top-notch prospect named Terry Norris who was 16-2, 10 ko's. It was a great battle with both guys having their moments, but when the scores were read, it was "Terrible" Terry Norris who got the nod on scores of 97-94 x 2, and 96-94 to win this battle of highly regarded prospects. It was a disappointed but realistic Taylor who told Al Bernstein at the post-fight interview on espn, that Norris had the edge in experience and that was what probably pulled it out.
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| Quincy Taylor tags Terry Norris with a big left in their 1988 encounter |
The close loss to Jorge Vaca didn't hurt Taylor at all. He was given a chance at his first title belt in his next fight against Armando Rodriguez (21-3-1) for the IBF Inter-continental Jr. Middleweight title. Taylor made the most of it as he stopped the defending champion in round 7 to win that coveted first belt.
That first loss to Jorge Vaca felt like unfinished business to all involved, so a rematch was set up at the scene of the first meeting - The Great Western Forum in Inglewood, CA. The match went the distance, but it was again Vaca who got the decision win in the 10-round main event.
Taylor then ran off a 6-fight win streak earning him a chance to win a 2nd title belt, this time it was for the NABF middleweight championship against defending champion Otis Grant who was undefeated (22-0), the Canadian champion, and making his 4th defense of the North American Title.
It was an incredible night for Quincy Taylor who was engaged in a war with the defending champion. It was close, but just to make sure no crazy scorecards got in the way, Taylor knocked out Grant in the 12th and final round to win the title. It is a good thing he scored that knockout as USA Network's broadcast team informed Taylor at the post-fight interview that even though it seemed clear to their eyes that Taylor was cruising to a certain decision win, two of the official judges had Grant ahead on their scorecards, and the third judge had it even! No matter, Taylor sealed the win with the 10-count knockout.
Quincy defended that NABF title proudly in his next 3 fights with fantastic title defense wins against: Derrick Rolon (19-1), Rodney Toney (19-0-2), and Rafael Williams (33-14).... all by technical knockout!
He was a proven world class and world ranked contender now, and he finally got his shot at a world championship.
It was August 19, 1995 when Quincy Taylor took his 25-3 record into a challenge for the WBC Middleweight Championship against one of the most fearsome knockout punchers in boxing - Julian "The Hawk" Jackson (51-3, 47 knockouts). It was a star-studded event staged by Don King productions, headlined by Mike Tyson's return to the ring against "Hurricane" Peter McNeeley and televised on Showtime PPV. It was a big night for Quincy Taylor, and the fight was a battle right up to the point where he hurt Jackson with a body punch, and then unleashed on him forcing referee Jay Nady to wave the fight to a stop. Quincy Taylor was the new WBC Middleweight Champion of the world!
His title reign was short-lived as he lost in his first title defense 7 months later to Keith Holmes (28-1) on the undercard of the Mike Tyson/Frank Bruno rematch. The fight was close as the judge's scores indicated (77-76, and 77-75 x 2) up to the point of the stoppage.
Taylor would fight just twice more in the next 5 years, winning both by knockout. His final bout came on June 16, 2001, and what a way to go out, handing Fred Moore (25-0) his first defeat by technical knockout in round 4.
Quincy Taylor was a fight-fan's fighter. Hard punching, and a solid technician. Nothing fancy, no cute nicknames or colorful costumes, just a pure warrior who won titles, and even reached the mountain-top winning the WBC World Championship too! He is also reputed to have dropped Sugar Ray Leonard in a sparring session when Ray was training for his historic fight against Marvelous Marvin Hagler!
He finished with an outstanding record of 28-4, with 24 of those wins by knockout
Check out his complete pro record: QUINCY TAYLOR ON BOXREC
If you would like to see Quincy Taylor in action, I have the following bouts available for trade on DVD:
1. TERRY NORRIS [L-10]
2. DONALD JOHNSON [tko-7]
3. GILBERT BAPTIST [w-10]
4. TOMAS PEREZ [w-10]
5. MARIO GASTON [tko-7]
6. JORGE VACA #1 [L-Tech-6]
7. JORGE VACA #2 [L-10]
8. OTIS GRANT [ko-12] {NABF Middle Title}
9. DERRICK ROLON [tko-8] {NABF Middle Title}
10. RODNEY TONEY [tko-12] {NABF Middle Title}
11. JULIAN JACKSON [tko-6] {WBC Middle Title}
12. KEITH HOLMES [tko-by-9] {WBC Middle Title}
2. DONALD JOHNSON [tko-7]
3. GILBERT BAPTIST [w-10]
4. TOMAS PEREZ [w-10]
5. MARIO GASTON [tko-7]
6. JORGE VACA #1 [L-Tech-6]
7. JORGE VACA #2 [L-10]
8. OTIS GRANT [ko-12] {NABF Middle Title}
9. DERRICK ROLON [tko-8] {NABF Middle Title}
10. RODNEY TONEY [tko-12] {NABF Middle Title}
11. JULIAN JACKSON [tko-6] {WBC Middle Title}
12. KEITH HOLMES [tko-by-9] {WBC Middle Title}
Contact me for information: The Boxing Guru via e-mail
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