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Chip On My Shoulder! Local boxer, “Marvelous” Marquis Taylor, making his mark in boxing world

ABOVE: “Marvelous” Marquis Taylor (Photo by Medron White) On July 8th, a rising African American boxer from Houston, TX, made his way to the boxing ring at Boardwalk Hall’s Adrian Phillips Theater in Atlantic City, NJ, for arguably the biggest fight of his career—debuting at the 160-pound limit. That local fighter’s name is “Marvelous” Marquis […]
The post Chip On My Shoulder! Local boxer, “Marvelous” Marquis Taylor, making his mark in boxing world first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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3 years ago

August 10, 2023

Forward Times Staff

ABOVE: “Marvelous” Marquis Taylor (Photo by Medron White)

On July 8^th, a rising African American boxer from Houston, TX, made his way to the boxing ring at Boardwalk Hall’s Adrian Phillips Theater in Atlantic City, NJ, for arguably the biggest fight of his career—debuting at the 160-pound limit.

That local fighter’s name is “Marvelous” Marquis Taylor, and he had something to prove.

“Marvelous” Marquis Taylor (Photo by Medron White)

Not only did Taylor head to the ring representing his beloved high school alma mater by wearing crimson and gold trunks, but the 2012 Jack Yates High School graduate also walked to the ring with his entourage playing the iconic hit Houston anthem “Maan!” paying homage to legendary Houston rap legend and fellow Jack Yates alum Big Pokey, who passed away the month prior.

Taylor, an impressive 29-year-old burgeoning fighter, entered the fight with a 14-1-2 record with 1 KO. Coming into the fight, he had also successfully defeated four straight fighters, who had never lost a fight prior to facing him.

Taylor’s recent fight—which took place on “Showtime Championship Boxing” as a co-main event boxing match—was against a 25-year-old, previously undefeated and hard-hitting Cuban boxer named Yoelvis “La Joya” Gomez. Gomez had a 6-0 record entering the fight, with 5 KOs.

On top of that, many boxing pundits predicted Taylor to lose the fight, with Gomez being a 4 to 1 favorite to defeat him in their scheduled 10-round middleweight match.

Taylor refused to let that deter him, as he came to the ring focused on winning, proving his non-believers wrong, making a major statement, and walking out victorious once again.

Taylor got going early and put Gomez on the canvas in the second round. Taylor stayed aggressive and refused to allow Gomez to bully him or control the fight. After going the full distance in the 10-round middleweight bout, Taylor secured a unanimous decision over the favored Gomez—winning all three of the judges’ scorecards: 96-93, 99-90, and 96-93.

After the unanimous victory, the Forward Times caught up with Taylor at the Prince Boxing Gym, where he trains, to learn more about him and talk about what’s next in his boxing career.

Forward Times Associate Editor Jeffrey L. Boney with “Marvelous” Marquis Taylor, and his father, Stacy Taylor (Photo by Medron White)

Taylor states that he started boxing when he was seven years old and was influenced to pursue the sport of boxing because of his father, Stacy, and his older brother, Zacary.

“My dad introduced me to boxing because my older brother had gotten into it,” says Taylor. “I wanted to follow in my brother’s footsteps and do what he did, so I started boxing at 7, when my brother was about 10. I haven’t looked back since.”

Taylor’s father, Stacy, has been in his corner (no pun intended) every step of the way, and takes pride in his son’s boxing career, as well as him being able to represent Houston at the highest level possible, especially Jack Yates High School.

“Not only am I a 1987 graduate of Jack Yates, but my mother is a 1961 JY graduate, and my grandmother was part of the first graduating classes of JY,” said Stacy, who used to box himself. “Marquis’ mother is also a 1987 graduate of Jack Yates, and her father is a 1961 graduate of Jack Yates. Marquis is a fourth-generation JY graduate, so crimson and gold is in his blood.”

Stacy states that he introduced his sons to all sorts of sports, such as basketball, baseball, and football, but they both had a knack for boxing and that is what they stuck with.

“I wanted them to play tennis, but it was too expensive for us at the time, so we gravitated to boxing,” said Stacy. “We started off in Third Ward at P.A.B.A. with Reverend Ray Martin, and that is where they cultivated their skills and helped them thrive in the sport as amateur boxers.”

“Marvelous” Marquis Taylor hitting the punching bag at Prince Boxing Gym in Houston (Photo by Medron White)

Taylor said that he looked up to boxers such as Roy Jones Jr., Mike Tyson, Bernard Hopkins, and Andre Ward, and took a little bit of their styles to help perfect his game. He states that at around nine years old, he realized he could really go higher and successfully compete in the sport.

“When I was nine, Juan Diaz was the only world champion from Houston at the time, and when I saw him pull up in an Escalade truck with 24-inch rims on it, that is when I first found out that you could actually make money doing this and be successful,” Taylor said as he chuckled. “Ever since that day, I knew I was going to turn pro as a boxer.”

Taylor said that one of the biggest challenges that he faced on his journey was not coming out of the amateurs with a big promotional deal.

“It has taken a lot of patience, a lot of training, and staying in tip-top shape, without an identified destination” says Taylor. “You just have to be ready when your name is called, which is the most difficult thing, because you don’t know when, or if, you will get that call.”

Taylor states that when he was in the amateurs, he did not attend a lot of national tournaments and could not travel because he had other responsibilities, such as being in the band and trying to graduate from high school.

“I was never on the national scene, so a lot of people didn’t know about me,” says Taylor. “I turned pro without a deal and thought I would get one after turning pro, but I didn’t get one. I started taking whatever fights were available, but it worked against me because I was winning, and many promoters and matchmakers didn’t want me to fight their guys because there was a strong chance that I would beat them. Now, we just stay ready for any opportunity with anyone in the top 5, who is up for the challenge to fight me at either 154 or 160.”

“Marvelous” Marquis Taylor shadowboxing at Prince Boxing Gym

Taylor says that he would like to fight Tim Tszyu at the 154-pound limit, but he believes that division is locked up right now. Taylor states that because undisputed super-welterweight (154lbs) champion Jermell Charlo is about to fight undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez on September 30^th in Las Vegas, NV, and because Charlo and undisputed welterweight (147lbs) champion Terrance Crawford have both expressed interest in fighting one another after the Alvarez fight, he must focus on doing big things at the 160-pound limit.

Taylor states that he came up to the 160-pound limit to fight Gomez, and because he is ranked there now, he will stay there and look for other fights in that division.

“We are about to take over 160, because we feel as though nobody can beat me at 160, or 154,” says Taylor. “A lot of guys moved out of 160, so it’s kind of empty right now, but there’s a guy named Carlos Adames who I’ll fight. I’m prepared to fight anybody to be honest with you. I’m just looking to fight the type of guys on the biggest cards, on Showtime Championship Boxing.”

One of the challenges in boxing is that it can get very political and cut-throat, and getting a shot at a world championship belt can be hard to come by. Taylor refuses to let that deter him. He says that a lot of the fighters that are top contenders now, fighting for belts, and getting bigger opportunities started off at the same time as he did or after. He has a huge chip on his shoulder.

“I have a huge chip on my shoulder, because I feel like I should have been one of the ones that was signed to a big promotional deal when I became pro, and I wasn’t chosen,” says Taylor. “Now I want the heads of the ones who were chosen, and who do have big promotional deals. It’s really ‘Me vs. Me’, so I don’t really care who they put in front of me. I hope to get on the Charlo vs. Canelo card or David Benavidez’ next card. I just want to keep fighting on the biggest cards in boxing. They need to see me. I am ready!”

The post Chip On My Shoulder! Local boxer, “Marvelous” Marquis Taylor, making his mark in boxing world appeared first on Forward Times.

The post Chip On My Shoulder! Local boxer, “Marvelous” Marquis Taylor, making his mark in boxing world first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring Review — Is This $136K EV Sedan Worth It?

AUTONETWORK ON BLACKPRESSUSA — Finished in Stellar White Metallic with the Tahoe Grand Touring interior, this Lucid makes a strong first impression. The shape is sleek and low, but it still feels elegant instead of trying too hard. Features like soft-close doors, powered illuminated door handles, 20-inch Aero Lite wheels, and the Glass Canopy Roof help the car feel expensive before you even start it.

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2 weeks ago

May 3, 2026

Oakland Post

The 2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring is the kind of luxury EV that makes people stop and ask a simple question: Is this really better than a Tesla Model S, Mercedes EQS, or BMW i7? At $136,150, it has to do more than look futuristic. It has to feel special every time you get in it.

Finished in Stellar White Metallic with the Tahoe Grand Touring interior, this Lucid makes a strong first impression. The shape is sleek and low, yet it still feels elegant rather than trying too hard. Features like soft-close doors, powered illuminated door handles, 20-inch Aero Lite wheels, and the Glass Canopy Roof help the car feel expensive before you even start it.

Inside is where the Air Grand Touring really makes its case. The 34-inch Glass Cockpit Display and retractable Pilot Panel screen give the cabin a clean, modern look that still feels different from other EVs. The Tahoe Extended Leather and Lucid Black Alcantara headliner lifts the sense of occasion, and the front seats are a highlight. They are 20-way power-adjustable, heated, ventilated, and include massage. That matters because luxury buyers at this price expect comfort first.

Rear passengers are not ignored either. You get 5-zone heated rear seating, a rear center console display, and power rear and rear side window sunshades. Add in the Surreal Sound Pro system with 21 speakers, and the Air feels like a true long-distance luxury sedan.

Lucid also gives this car serious EV hardware. The dual-motor all-wheel-drive system, 900V+ charging architecture, and Wunderbox onboard charger are big talking points. Buyers in this segment care about range, charging speed, and everyday ease, not just raw performance. That is where the Lucid continues to stand out.

On the technology side, the Air Grand Touring includes DreamDrive Premium, with 3D Surround View Monitoring, Blind Spot Warning, Automatic Park In and Out, Automatic Emergency Braking, and a Driver Monitoring System with distracted and drowsy driver alerts. This one also has DreamDrive Pro, which adds future-capable ADAS hardware.

There are still some real-world annoyances. Based on your notes, the windshield wiper control is hard to find and use, and that matters more than people think in a high-tech car. When controls become less intuitive, even a beautiful interior can feel frustrating.

Still, the 2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring succeeds where it matters most. It feels luxurious, advanced, comfortable, and thoughtfully engineered. For buyers who want an EV sedan that feels truly premium and less common than the usual choices, this Lucid makes a very strong case.

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Snoop Dogg Celebrates 10 Til’ Midnight at the Compound

LOS ANGELES SENTINEL — The album is paired with a film that stars Snoop Dogg, Hitta J3, G Perico, and Ray Vaughn, and one of the strongest elements of the whole project is that the production stayed rooted right here in Los Angeles.

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2 weeks ago

May 3, 2026

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Snoop Dogg celebrated the premiere of 10 Til’ Midnight at his Inglewood recording studio & multipurpose facility, The Compound, but the night felt like much more than an album release. It felt like Los Angeles. It felt like legacy. And it felt like another major move from one of the city’s greatest cultural architects as he continues to prove that he is not just dropping music — he is building moments, shaping narratives, and pushing the culture forward in real time.

What made the event so powerful was the clarity behind the vision. During a panel conversation with DJ Hed, Snoop opened up about the heart behind 10 Til’ Midnight, explaining that the project was created to help bridge older and younger generations while also speaking to the long-standing divisions between Bloods and Crips in a unique way through film. That alone gave the project a different kind of weight. This was not just about songs. This was about using creativity as a tool for connection. This was about taking a story rooted in Los Angeles and telling it in a way that could bring people together.

Snoop Congratulated By Rapper & Fellow 10 Til Midnight Cast Member G Perico (CreativeLB/KreativeKapturez)

The album is paired with a film that stars Snoop Dogg, Hitta J3, G Perico, and Ray Vaughn, and one of the strongest elements of the whole project is that the production stayed rooted right here in Los Angeles. The film was shot in the city, including at WePlay Studios in Inglewood, which gave the entire project an even deeper hometown feel. It was not just a West Coast story in content — it was a Los Angeles-made production from the ground up.

That matters because, in a city like this, authenticity still carries weight. Snoop understands how to make sure that what he creates does not just represent Los Angeles on the surface, but actually comes from it.

What also makes 10 Til’ Midnight significant is that it represents another major step in Snoop’s evolution as both an artist and executive. Public reporting around the project identifies it as his 22nd studio album, but the bigger story is what it represents in this season of his life. This is one of several consecutive moves he has made in his 50s that show he is still building, still expanding, and still finding new ways to reinvent what the next chapter looks like.

Snoop Dogg at the Premiere of 10 Til Midnight (CreativeLB/KreativeKapturez)

Now, as the head of Death Row Records and the newly aligned leader of Death Row Pictures, he is taking the brand into a new dimension. That is what made this moment feel bigger than music. Snoop is not just protecting the legacy of Death Row — he is stretching it. He is expanding it beyond records and into film, visual storytelling, and larger creative worlds that can continue carrying the label’s impact forward. Public reporting has noted that this project arrives as part of that broader cinematic push.

That is a major Los Angeles move because the city has always been built on the intersection of music, film, neighborhood identity, and cultural storytelling. With 10 Til’ Midnight, Snoop is leaning all the way into that intersection.

The room at The Compound reflected that. It felt like a private premiere, but it also felt like a statement — a reminder that Snoop Dogg’s staying power has never been based only on nostalgia. It comes from his ability to remain connected, remain visionary, and remain in tune with how to move the culture without losing the essence of who he is.

That is why this premiere mattered. It was not just about celebrating another album. It was about witnessing a Los Angeles legend continue to evolve, continue to unify, and continue to use art to tell stories that hit deeper than entertainment alone.

In that sense, 10 Til’ Midnight became more than a project launch. It became another example of how Snoop Dogg is still taking Los Angeles to the next level — using music, film, and legacy together to build something bigger than a moment.

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OP-ED: Small Businesses Need Minnesota to Act on Pass-Through Tax Policy

MINNESOTA SPOKESMAN RECORDER — A Twin Cities immigrant entrepreneur who built several businesses including grocery stores in underserved neighborhoods is calling on Minnesota lawmakers to extend the Pass-Through Entity tax option before it expires, warning that its loss would hit small businesses already recovering from Operation Metro Surge with higher federal tax bills.

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2 weeks ago

May 3, 2026

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A Twin Cities Small Business Owner Is Urging Minnesota to Extend a Tax Policy That Could Save Thousands of Businesses

By Daniel Hernandez | Minnesota Spokesman Recorder

I came to the United States as a teenager with a clear goal: to build something meaningful through hard work. I put in long days in construction, restaurants, and landscaping; doing whatever it took to learn, save, and eventually start my own business.

Over time, I built and ran several successful ventures, including an event photography company, a magazine, a tax and accounting firm, and now grocery stores serving neighborhoods across the Twin Cities where other retailers chose not to invest. I’ve created jobs, supported families, and committed to communities that deserve stability and opportunity.

That’s why I’m speaking out now.

Small business owners in Minneapolis and the communities we serve are recovering from serious disruptions, including the impacts of Operation Metro Surge. That event hit immigrant communities especially hard. In my own case, I lost nearly half of my 60 employees and saw revenue drop by about 85%. While I worked to provide competitive wages, health benefits, and paid time off, the real hardship fell on the people who lost their jobs and income.

Even as we rebuild, small businesses are facing another challenge. The Minnesota Legislature is considering letting an important tax policy expire: the Pass-Through Entity tax option.

Here’s what that means in plain terms.

Many small businesses, including mine, are pass-through businesses. That means the business itself doesn’t pay income tax. Instead, the owners report the income on their personal tax returns. But under current federal rules, there’s a limit on how much state tax we can deduct. That often leads to higher federal tax bills.

The Pass-Through Entity option fixes that. It allows the business to pay the state tax directly, which means the business can fully deduct those taxes on its federal return and lower the total amount of income taxed federally. The result is straightforward: small business owners pay less in federal taxes, without reducing what the state collects.

This policy is not new or controversial. Thirty-six states already offer it. It doesn’t cost Minnesota anything, it’s revenue neutral. And it benefits more than 66,000 businesses across the state.

In a state where the cost of doing business is already high, it’s hard to understand why we wouldn’t offer the same basic tax treatment as states like California and Illinois.

Small businesses have carried a heavy load in recent years, through a pandemic, rising costs and public safety disruptions. We’ve adapted, reinvested and stayed committed to our communities. What we need now are practical policies that support that work, not make it harder.

If the Minnesota House does not act soon, many businesses will face significantly higher federal tax bills. That’s money that could otherwise be used to hire workers, raise wages or reinvest in local neighborhoods.

I urge Gov. Tim Walz and members of the House Tax Committee to pass House File 3127 and extend the Pass-Through Entity election.

Small businesses are the backbone of our communities. We’ve proven our resilience. Now we need our state leaders to show the same commitment to us.

Daniel Hernandez is the owner of Colonial Market located at 2100 E. Lake St.

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