Paul Kroll’s career took an unforeseen turn Friday night in Orlando, Florida.

Marquis Taylor was an intelligent, precise puncher for most of their eight-rounder and appeared to upset the highly touted junior middleweight prospect. Only one judge, Joe Ware, scored their televised fight for Taylor, however, who won all eight rounds on Ware’s scorecard (80-72).

Judge Tito Wilgo scored the action 77-75 for Kroll, but judge Alex Levin’s 76-76 score rendered their fight a split draw.

Nevertheless, Philadelphia’s Kroll looked like he was tired by the midway mark and missed wildly with many of his punches in the opener of Showtime’s “ShoBox: The New Generation” doubleheader from Caribe Royale Resort. Though Taylor didn’t officially get the win he seemingly deserved, Kroll left the ring with the first blemish on his professional record (9-0-1, 6 KOs).

The 28-year-old Taylor, of Galena Park, Texas, now has two draws on his record (12-1-1, 1 KO, 1 NC).

Kroll appeared to need a knockout entering the eighth and final round to avoid his first professional defeat. He was too tired and inaccurate, however, to do the damage required to ensure a win in those final three minutes.

A short, left hook by Taylor landed with just over 1:40 to go in the eighth and final round. Two right hands by Taylor landed just before the final bell ended.

Kroll caught Taylor with a right hand in an exchange that took place with just under 40 seconds on the clock in the seventh round.

With Kroll slowing down, Taylor landed a left hook that knocked him into the ropes with just under 1:50 on the clock in the sixth round.

Kroll connected with a short right on the inside, but Taylor took it well barely 20 seconds into the fifth round. A stiff jab by Kroll backed up Taylor at the midway mark of the fifth round.

Taylor’s right hand knocked Kroll off balance with just under 20 seconds to go in the fifth round.

Kroll knocked Taylor off balance with a right hand barely 30 seconds into the fourth round. Taylor clipped Kroll with a counter left with about 1:50 on the clock in the fourth round.

A left hook by Kroll backed up Taylor with 50 seconds to go in the fourth round. Taylor landed a right hand with about 10 seconds remaining in the fourth round, but it didn’t affect Kroll.

Taylor landed a right hand with 1:15 to go in the third round, but Kroll didn’t budge.

Taylor’s left hook landed about 15 seconds into the second round. A sweeping left hook by Kroll landed with just under 2:10 to go in the second round.

A left hook by Taylor landed with just under a minute on the clock in the second round. He then quickly moved out of Kroll’s punching range.

Kroll missed wildly with a left hook and then a right hand later in the second round. Kroll connected with a chopping right hand just before the second round ended.

Kroll connected with a counter right hand less than 20 seconds into the opening round. Kroll missed wildly with a right hand with just under 50 seconds to go in the first round and lost his balance.

Taylor landed a right-left combination with approximately 15 seconds to go in the first round.

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.