TAGGART PLANS TO FOLLOW UP RING RETURN WITH ANOTHER SPECTACULAR WIN TONIGHT

33 year old Tim Taggart Jr. (6-4-2, 3 KO’s) of Hinckley, MN returned from a 10 year ring absence last December with an amazing second round TKO stoppage over skilled heavyweight James Jackson (now 4-1-1) of North Dakota at the Grand Casino in Hinckley, MN. In that bout, the former middleweight Taggart not only showed power in the heavyweight division, but brought with him the speed of his younger days. Combined, he turned in arguably the biggest win of his pro boxing career which spans back to 2007. Taggart will test himself again tonight at the Grand Casino Hinckley against former Cuban born Minneapolis heavyweight Dennys Reyes (2-1) in a meeting that die hard fans cannot wait for.

Minnesotaboxing.com caught up with Taggart heading into tonight’s fight to discuss the Jackson fight, life away from boxing, why he came back to the sport and more.

Q- How do you feel with your win against James Jackson in your last fight?

1. I feel amazing about the fight and obviously with the outcome. I mean it is nice to see all the hard work through this camp pay off. There is that old saying, when you put the hard work in during training camp, the fight will be easy. Let me tell you, the work I did put in for this camp was so hard and exhausting- so having earned that KO win, really meant the world to me.

Q- Can you run us through the fight and share your thoughts both during and after?

1. So, backing up a little bit. As you mentioned previously that my style 10 years ago was go go go right. No matter who the opponent was it was going to be all action and all punches. So, understanding that about my self that style will not work for me any more I had to do some changes. So going into the fight, I mean I bulked up quite a bit in 10 years, I walk around at 245 lbs, so during training camp I knew I was hell of a lot stronger than in the past. I was worried if my speed stayed there or not. Through training camp working with coaches and team, Ryan Obrien, Tim Taggart Sr., Cayman Audie, Matt Hatfield, Kyle Taggart, and Robert Livingston, I soon realized that I still have all that speed in my hands just a lot hard now. So watching James Jackson on film I noticed he never fought a guy who matched his speed, especially his jab, so the plan was use my speed to open him up. So fast forward to the fight now, In the first round, obviously its feel out round determines if style will work establish what strengths and weakness are. I used my jab very effectively. I mean I was so much quicker than this guy that, from appearances, he didn’t want to throw his jab as I would beat him to the punch every time. So as the round progressed and now I have established that I am faster than this guy, I needed to take out the body some. So that’s how that first round was, set that jab up to his the body. Also using that brain for once in a live fight. I knew that we were trying to set up a 1-1-2 and by knowing that’s what he loves to do, I stayed low, stayed active with the head movement and dipped to his jab side for the round and not giving him that opportunity to establish his self. So, first round is done, moving into round two. I knew this style was working very well against him and at some point, he is going to get frustrated and try to land an ill-advised shot. So, finding notice that he is responded to a lot of my faints from the jab and he is trying to hook off my jab all I had to do was wait for the right shot. So, going into the knockout punch, I set him up with some jabs and then I did a shoulder faint and he fell into the trap. What I was looking for was any sort of shoulder movement from him from that faint I was firing right up the middle as he threw wide punches. Know how strong my uppercut was from the training camp I knew that was the punch I needed to land. I did that faint he bit and I fired it in between his gloves. Finished with a left hook and helped him down with a straight right. Boom Game over.

Q- It had been 10 years since your last fight. What have you been up to in those years?

1. Just like anybody else in life, the last 10 years have been a roller coaster in terms of how my life turned out. So, 10 years ago I got hired at a place that maybe wasn’t necessarily the best place for employment for me. I was a negative environment and was always on the edge. Whether it was fear of assault to me or a coworker, fear of death or retaliation of any sort. So, living on edge and stress for 7 ½ years really took a huge impact on my life. Through all that I actually found myself struggling with addiction, alcoholism, PTSD and suicidal thoughts. So lets say my life changed dramatically, at that point for the worse. Through help from my wife Shannon Taggart and my family, I was able to beat addiction, alcoholism, and suicide issues and at that point I decided to change careers. I moved back to Hinckley and got a job at Meshakwad Community center, located right by the Grand Casino Hinckley. I eventually became a Fitness Coordinator for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe and turned my life around 100%, so there is hope for anybody that is struggling with issues of any kind. There is a way out for everybody and don’t have to go through the same negative every day. Get help. Hell I will be that help if anybody ever needed it. But anyways, So I have been coaching boxing for the last 3 years, personal training, lifting weights staying in shape, been working the youth in Mille lacs band and making differences in lives. I am proud to say that I have a positive influence in the world and I wouldn’t change that for the world.

Q- What made you decide to fight again?

1. It’s actually funny how it all transpired. During a passing conversation, I was asked “Hey what do you think of fighting again?”. I jokingly responded, “Right money. Right opponent.” A few days later Cory Rapacz contacted me and asked if I wanted to take a fight. I mean I worked out nonstop for my job, and I love weight lifting. I also worked the boxing club and sparred quite a bit, so I was in great shape to begin with but this time much more mass to me. I told Cory, let see the offer. I let him know that I would have to be a heavyweight as I physically couldn’t get down into cruiser weight. I wanted a good fighter to prove to the world, I can still do this. They offered me the right fighter and it was a bonus that I could use the platform make a difference in the world. As many know that I was fighting for MMIW- Justice for Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women, and my youth program ge-niigaanizijig.

Q- how did you feel moving up to heavyweight?

1. At first, I was nervous and I did not know that I would be strong enough in the division. I found out that not having to cut 25 pounds in 6 weeks made a huge huge difference. Being able to fight at my walking weight was a difference maker and I had all my strength in this fight. So, I felt strong, looked strong and ultimately that led to the victory.

Q- Talk about your earlier days in boxing, your best memories, and how you got involved in the sport.

1. My amature career was long. Having starting boxing at age 5 and being a gym rat, I was always boxing. I had about 150 amateur fights with multiple tournaments, a lot of great experiences throughout my amateur career. One of the best moments was my first time getting 2^nd place at Silver Gloves. Another memory that stands out was trying out for the Junior Olympic International team and of course, my first ever knock out. I got involved through my dad, Tim Taggart Sr- he boxed in the military and also started a Boxing gym in Pine Ridge South Dakota, through the Oglala Lakota tribe. Moving to Minnesota, I started at Lake Lena Boxing Club fighting for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. My coaches Harry Davis, my dad, Wally and Ed St. John, all contributed to my success in my amateur career.

Q- Can you talk more about your father and boxing and him being in your life.

1. My dad Tim Taggart Sr. has had a huge impact in my life and honestly, is the best man I know. He has been through so much in his life- the American Indian movement, being in the military, and taking care of my sister, who has a rare disease causing her to be disabled, to name a few. On top of all those things, he is a great provider, father and husband. I hope to emulate a fraction of all the good he has done. As mentioned before he started me in boxing and still to this day helps me with boxing and volunteers as a boxing coach for Meshakwad Community Center Boxing. So he is very much involved in my life to this day.

Q-What are your future plans moving forward?

1. Well it started as a one fight deal, as I had a lot left to prove to myself but I am open to listening to an offer for a potential next fight. So, I will wait and see what happens. But for now, my focus is to continue to try and make a difference in my community, with my family, and the world. I am putting my focus back into personal training and working with the youth in my program. At this time if you don’t mind I would like to say a few thank you’s for making this happen. First and foremost, my wife, Shannon Taggart, and my family for being there for me through everything in my life most recently for this training camp and the match. I would like to say thank you to my coaches Ryan O’Brien, my mentor and great man I hope to emulate, Tim Taggart Sr., Chissie Spencer, Cayman Audie and Matt Hatfield. I would like to thank the Meshakwad Community Center and Site Director, Robert Livingston for such an amazing facility. The Grand Casino Hinckley, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, Cory Rapacz, Aanji and Ge-niigaanizijig programs, Oglala Lakota Tribe, MMIW programs, and big thank you to all the fans that came to support and wore the justice for MMIW shirts. Such an amazing night and I hope everyone enjoyed the show. Once again thank you Jesse for all the work you do and again such an honor.

Q-Did you watch Dennys Reyes against Cayman Audie?

1. I did see him fight at Canterbury so I have a game plan. I’m excited and ready.