Have to go with Vernon here... I just can't see Mel being able to contend with such a big, fairly skilled welterweight
I dont know, I just think he'd have too much trouble delaing with such a big Welterweight... plus Vernon was a guy who liked to hold and tie people up whenever they got close, I think that would work in his favor in the face of a guy like Taylor who was so attack-minded
I hear you. Size could very well be a deciding factor. When I play this fight out in my mind, though, i see taylor winning a close one on work rate and without being significantly hurt in return.
Taylor doesn't have the size and Vernon's jab would provide a lot of problems for Meldrick trying to get inside and fire off combinations. It's not a duplicate of the Mosley fights but there are similarities as to how it would play out.
The biggest difference, however, is that Taylor was on the '84 Olympic team with Evander Holyfield, who went 15 rounds w/ Qawi for his first world title. Forrest only knew a dude, who knows a dude, who saw a dude train for a 15-rounder. Intangibles, homie.
Its hard to beat a prime Forrest unless you have the firepower to deter him. Unless of course, you're a defensive genius like Whitaker, or Benitez... which Taylor was NOT.