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Judge sets bail for Jermain Taylor; former champ free on bond

Fighters Network
27
Aug

Jermain Taylor’s handlers expect him to still be available for an Oct. 8 bout against IBF middleweight titleholder Sam Soliman after a judge set bail at $25,000 on Wednesday morning.

The ruling was made following Taylor’s arrest and overnight jail stay in Little Rock, Ark. in connection with a Tuesday night shooting that wounded his cousin.

“I haven’t heard from [Taylor] but I’m talking to his people,” said Leon Margules of Warriors Boxing, who is promoting Taylor’s fight with Soliman. “I have spoken with his promoter, Lou DiBella, as well as his advisor, Al Haymon. Our intention is to go forward with the fight.”

A former undisputed middleweight champion, Taylor, 36, was released on Wednesday after having been arrested on Tuesday at his Pulaski County home in Arkansas on charges of aggravated assault and first-degree battery after a shooting that injured his cousin, according to Arkansas Online. The site also reported that a preliminary plea of “not guilty” was entered for Taylor during the hearing and he must sign a waiver of extradition in order to train in Miami.



The shooting occurred at about 6 p.m. at Taylor’s home near Maumelle, Ark., according to the report. Taylor’s cousin, whose name has not been released, was found at a nearby Dollar General store, where he and another man reportedly drove after the shots were fired, according to the report.

Lt. Carl Minden of the Pulaski County sheriff’s office, told ESPN.com that “Taylor retrieved a handgun and fired several rounds,” adding, “His cousin was struck multiple times.”

“The cousin” was “in serious condition at an area hospital” with “pretty serious injuries,” said Minden. “The other person was not struck but Mr. Taylor had fired several rounds and missed.”

The two men drove away from the home and were found at the nearby store after a woman believed to be Taylor’s wife called 911 shortly before 6 p.m. to report an intruder and a shooting at the home, according to the AP. The names of the cousin and the other man were not released.

“Prosecutors said during the hearing that Taylor said he had previous problems with the two men and that they showed up ‘uninvited,'” according to the Arkansas Online report. “Taylor told them to leave and then retrieved a gun, ultimately shooting the cousin at least twice, prosecutors said.”

Taylor is scheduled to challenge Soliman at Beau Rivage Resort and Casino in Biloxi, Miss.

Taylor appeared on video from the Pulaski County jail for an initial appearance on Wednesday in which District Judge Wayne Gruber set bail and granted a defense request for Taylor to travel out of state to train and compete against Soliman, according to the Associated Press.

“He’s ready to go. He’s not impacted,” said Margules. “He doesn’t have to go back to court until Oct. 15.”

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