Taylor Stops McGirt in 12th to Win IBF Title

Meldrick Taylor stopped Buddy McGirt in the 12th round Saturday to win the International Boxing Federation junior welterweight title at Atlantic City, N.J.

The upset victory improved Taylor’s record to 20-0-1 with 11 knockouts. Taylor, the 1984 Olympic featherweight champion, is the fifth member of that U.S. team to win a professional title.

The bout ended when McGirt’s manager, Al Certo, jumped into the ring at 2:00 of the 12th round and told referee Randy Neuman to stop it. The battered champion was wobbling against the ropes.

“I couldn’t understand why everybody thought McGirt would win,” Taylor said. “He came out in the first round trying to bomb me out; he shook me up. But when he saw I could fight right back, his heart dropped in his pants.”

Taylor was hurt by a left hook in the opening seconds, and it looked as if McGirt might have his second consecutive first-round knockout.

But Taylor survived McGirt’s early attack and dominated the final 11 rounds. He proved too fast for McGirt as he peppered the champion with combinations.