TAYLOR, MELDRICK-JAIME BALBOA ON SITE POSTER (1989)

On November 20, 1989 at Pennsylvania Hall, Civic Center in Philadelphia IBF Junior Welterweight champion Meldrick Taylor fought Jaime Balboa (a replacement for Victorio Belcher) in the main event. Taylor stopped Balboa in the 5th round. Taylor Alters The Script, Stops 'Rocky' In The 5th By Robert Seltzer-The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 21, 1989-Jaime "Rocky" Balboa, inspired by a fictitious pug, was a boxer in search of a script. There was only one problem: The scriptwriter was Meldrick Taylor, the junior-welterweight champion, and he had a sad ending in store for Balboa. Taylor, making his home-town professional debut last night, stopped Balboa in the fifth round of a scheduled 10-round, nontitle fight at Pennsylvania Hall in the Civic Center. Referee Frank Cappuccino stopped the bout at 1 minute, 59 seconds of the round. The victory gave Taylor, who holds the International Boxing Federation title, a record of 23-0-1 with 13 knockouts; the loss dropped Balboa, of San Antonio, Texas, to 47-11. "I knew it was just a matter of time before I put my combinations together," Taylor said. "It was a great workout." Balboa had received his big chance after Victorio Belcher, who originally was scheduled to meet Taylor, pulled out of the bout over a contract dispute. "I thought it was kind of sassy for a man named Rocky Balboa to come and challenge me in my home town," said Taylor, 23. "But it was good for the venue. It brought the people out." The bout, billed as the biggest local fight in almost eight years, drew a near capacity crowd at the 3,500-seat auditorium. Offered here is an original, on site poster for this event.
This is an original, cardboard, on site poster which pictures Meldrick Taylor. Bold color and print. Bold, clear image. No tack holes. No center crease. Very minor soiling. Minor corner wear. 22" x 28."