By Mark Vester
WBC/WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik (32-0, 29KOs) has begun training for his rematch with Jermain Taylor (27-1, 17KOs), scheduled on Feb. 16 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. Pavlik stopped Taylor in seven-rounds to capture the middleweight crown in September.
Speaking with The Vindicator, Pavlik feels Taylor and his camp are regretting their persistence for the non-title rematch to take place at a catch-weight of 166-pounds.
"I think it was a dumb mistake," Pavlik said. "I think they're regretting taking the fight at 166. For whatever reason, he wanted it. His excuse [for losing] was he had a hard time making 160. Fighting me in a non-title bout, he gets the short end of the percentage. I don't know what it was, but I think he made a mistake by doing it."
Pavlik has no idea what Taylor is thinking, but he's relieved to have a camp where making weight will not be problem. On a regular basis, Pavlik must put his body through hell to make the middleweight limit of 160-pounds.
"We can kind of lift a little more and do things like that so we don't have to kill ourselves to make 160," Pavlik said. "For me, it's good because it gives me confidence going in. I'm bigger than Taylor so it's harder for me to make 160. I'm going to be stronger than Taylor. I definitely think I'm going to benefit more than he is."
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