Pryce Taylor to honor George Foreman before fight

Undefeated Brooklyn heavyweight prospect Pryce Taylor (7-0, 5 KOs) will honor the late, great Hall of Famer George Foreman this Friday night when he enters the ring to take on Ed Fountain (14-8, 7 KOs) in the event center at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York.

The 6-round Taylor vs. Fountain match is on the undercard of “International Boxing Hall of Fame Night,” presented by Taylor’s promoter Salita Promotions, and will be headlined by the 10-round IBF USBA Heavyweight Championship match between Brandon Moore and Stanley Wright.

Taylor, 28, will wear a George Foreman T-shirt during his ring walk into the ring. Although he never met Foreman, Taylor feels a connection with “Big George.”

“I didn’t know anything about boxing until I started boxing in 2017,” the former college basketball player Taylor explained. “I looked him up and I want to steal some of his size and power. I really wish I got to meet him before he passed away. I’m going to do right by him in his name for this fight. He beat people up and I’m going to try as hard as I can to do the same in this fight.”

Taylor will face the toughest test of his young professional career in Fountain, whose 14 wins is more than 10 better than any of Taylor’s other opponents to date.

“It’s going to be a great fight,” Taylor said. “He’s a lefty but I’ve been great against southpaws. I know he’s very aggressive; that’s going to get him hurt.”

Because this coming weekend celebrates the induction of the International Boxing of Fame’s Class of 2025 in nearby Canastota, boxing stars from the past, present and future, in addition to many of the leading boxing media members, will be attending Friday evening’s boxing event.

“I can’t wait to show off my skills for all of them,” Taylor added. “It’s just work, though. Whatever comes will come. I just love doing it.”

Taylor had a 60-11 amateur record, including a pair of New York Golden Gloves titles, and he was the heavyweight runner-up four times in the prestigious USA Boxing National Championship tournaments.

“George was an icon in the sport,” commented Taylor’s manager, NYC boxing lawyer Keith Sullivan. “People have compared Pryce’s size, physique and style to that of ‘Big George.’ I am happy he chose to honor him in this fight. On DAZN during Hall of Fame weekend is a great platform for Pryce to showcase his abilities. Salita Promotions has been doing a great job working with me to keep Pryce active and on big cards. I am looking forward to ‘The Pryce is Right’ securing another victory this week in Canastota, New York.”

Sullivan, a former Deputy Commissioner for the NYS Athletic Commission, also manages 3-time, 2-division World Champion Miyo Yoshida (18-5) and Bronx NYPD Officer Nisa Rodriguez (3-1, 1 KO), as well as co-managing world-rated (IBF #3 & WBA #10) welterweight contender Paddy “The Real Deal” Donovan (14-1, 11 KOs), from Limerick, Ireland. Sullivan co-manages Donovan with former world middleweight champion Andy Lee, who is also Donovan’s head trainer.