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12/13/2006 Archived Entry: "Scott Shaffer Responds to Taylor Piece"
Scott Shaffer Responds to Taylor Piece
TO: Tom Donelson
I am a member of the Boxingtalk Press Group and also the attorney for DiBella Entertainment, Inc., the promoter of world middleweight champion Jermain Taylor. I am writing in my personal capacity to clarify a point in your article, "Taylor, the Undisputed King of the Middleweights! "
Your article claimed that Jermain is no longer recognized by the WBA. That is not accurate. Admittedly, there have been months this year when the WBA issued ratings that did not list Taylor as the unified or super champion, even though he won that title when he defeated Bernard Hopkins in July 2005 and has not been defeated since. However, the matter was protested, and Taylor' s name restored to the WBA's roll of champions, and as I write this, Jermain Taylor is still the WBA unified champion. The WBA elected not to sanction Jermain Taylor's last two fights (Wright and Ouma) even though I informed the WBA in writing that he wanted to defend the WBA title and was willing to pay the sanctioning fees due for each bout.
For reasons that are not still not clear to me, the WBA refused to sanction either defense. However, they have not yet stripped him of his title, or at least have not informed us of any decision or proceedings to strip him.
Mariano Carrera of Argentina is the 'regular' or lesser champion under the WBA's two-tiered championship system. Any decision to elevate Carrera or recognize him at the expense of Jermain Taylor would be, in my opinion, more damaging to the credibility of the WBA than to Jermain Taylor, who is indisputably the world middleweight champion no matter which sanctioning bodies choose to recognize him.
Thank you,
Scott Shaffer
Attorney for DiBella Entertainment, Inc.
