Legal Jabs for Jermain Taylor: Centennial Bank Files $403,000 Foreclosure Lawsuit

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Arkansas native and former middleweight boxing champion Jermain Taylor is facing another legal bout.

On Sept. 21, Centennial Bank of Conway filed a foreclosure lawsuit against Taylor, who beat Bernard Hopkins in 2005 to become undisputed middleweight champion of the world. The bank is seeking a nearly $403,000 judgment.

In 2013, Taylor borrowed $300,000 from Centennial Bank and used his 2,620-SF Maumelle home as collateral.

Taylor made payments “from time to time, but such payments ceased on or about December of 2019,” according to the lawsuit filed in Pulaski County Circuit Court by attorney John R. Peel of Russellville.

As of July 25, the principal balance on the loan was nearly $270,000 and unpaid interest was about $132,000. The bank asked for a judgment against Taylor, and if that’s not paid within a time set by the judge, Taylor’s property should be sold.

As of Wednesday, Taylor hasn’t responded to the complaint and couldn’t be reached for comment.

It’s the latest legal blow to hit Taylor, who won a bronze medal in the 2000 summer Olympics. In July, Corvette V. Miller of Little Rock received a default judgment against Taylor for $77,900.

Miller said in a lawsuit filed last year in Pulaski County Circuit Court that he was at a card game at Taylor’s house when Taylor “got upset and started accusing others of cheating.” Miller accused Taylor of striking him in the side of the head, causing damages.

Taylor didn’t answer that lawsuit and Miller was awarded $77,900 in damages.