By Mark Vester

WBC/WBO middleweight champ Jermain Taylor (27-0-1) claims to be a new man. No more "Mr. Nice Guy" for the Arkansas native. In a recent interview with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette , Taylor spoke about his new attitude towards critics and opponents.

"It's over. Those days are over," Taylor said. "I can't be nice to them anymore, and don't think I'm going to forget a single person that said something. I'm human."

Taylor is tentatively scheduled to face mandatory challenger Kelly Pavlik (31-0) in the main event of a Sept. 29 HBO telecast. Taylor doesn't seem to be worried about Pavlik's aggressive, power punching style. He plans to trade with Pavilk and give as good as he gets.

"I feel bad for him. I mean, I feel bad, because he does not know who he's getting in the ring with," Taylor said. "If he comes at me, I'm going to take it to him, I'm going to give it all to him. That's the fight the people want. So if that's what they want, you know I'm going to give it to them. I'm never going to back down from anyone. This guy is nothing, and I'm going to expose him. And then what? After I beat him, then what? Because I'm going to beat him, and I'm going to beat him bad. Especially if he comes to fight.

Taylor said he punished Pavlik in the amateurs, and will punish him again as a pro because "Pavlik's heart isn't big enough."

"In the amateurs, I punished him, no problem whatsoever. He has gotten a little better, a little older, a little more mature, but that don't mean nothing. If he comes to fight, and comes to fight hard, his heart isn't big enough."

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