 Taylor (right) was the more aggressive in a disappointing bout |
Jermain Taylor successfully defended his WBC and WBO middleweight belts and maintained his unbeaten record with a split-decision win over Cory Spinks. Taylor, who is being lined up for a 2007 showdown with Joe Calzaghe, overcame his fellow American in an uninspiring bout in Memphis.
One judge gave the fight 117-111 to Spinks but the other two went 117-111 and 115-113 in favour of Taylor.
The 28-year-old has now won 27 of his 28 bouts with one draw.
Taylor has been champion since he out-pointed Bernard Hopkins in July 2005.
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He landed few serious punches on Spinks, the IBF light middleweight champion, who was stepping up in weight.
"He ran the whole time. I couldn't get my punches right," said Taylor, whose next bout could be against Kelly Pavlik.
The unbeaten Pavlik scored a seventh-round technical knock-out of Edison Miranda on the undercard.
"I will fight anybody, anybody" said Taylor. "If Kelly Pavlik is the best fighter out there for the most money, we're going after Kelly Pavlik."
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