[image-1]Spring brought a spate of bad luck to Fillmore boxer Karim "Hard Hitta" Mayfield -- who, until recently, was considered one of San Francisco's beloved rising stars.
In March, Mayfield's manager Marlon Sullivan was indicted on federal drug and murder-for-hire charges, in the same sting that ensnared state Senator Leland Yee. Three days later, Mayfield lost a junior welterweight bout against Puerto Rican boxer Thomas Dulorme, which was widely characterized as an "audition" for a title fight in June.
Then, he was dropped by his promoter, Top Rank.
And through it all, he remained unflappable. Asked to comment on his bad break during an SF Weekly interview in May, he offered a snappy rejoinder: "Minor setback, major comeback."
Apparently, he's turned that slogan into a credo. On July 18, Mayfield will battle junior welterweight Emanuel Taylor at The Paramount, an Arena in upstate New York. The event will be broadcast on ESPN's Friday Night Fights Series -- a step down for Mayfield, who was growing accustomed to bigger purse battles on HBO.
See also: Boxer Karim Mayfield Fights to Rise in a Dying Sport
But it could be a rebound. Boxing is more unforgiving than any other sport, and, as Mayfield's story indicates, it offers few second chances. But if Mayfield proves himself against Taylor, he might salvage what's left of his hard-won, extremely low-paying career.
Incidentally, Mayfield's Gilroy-born counterpart, Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero, will appear the same day at a boxing showcase in San Francisco, more than a year after being bludgeoned by Floyd Mayweather. Guerrero is also set on a comeback -- and a possible Mayweather rematch.
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