Jermain Taylor says he wants his dignity back. "I want everything back that Kelly Pavlik took from me," he said.
Taylor, in an incredible Media Day yesterday at the historic Johnny Tocco's Gym in Las Vegas, worked hard and then let it all out during an interview session.
"At the end of the second round I figured I had Kelly Pavlik beat. He was hanging onto me. Could barely stand up. Staggering around. It was over - at least, I thought it was. The problem was, I was out of gas too," Taylor said.
Pavlik roared back to defeat the long-time middleweight champ. Now, in a promotion titled 'The Epic Battle Continues,' Pavlik and Taylor battle at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Saturday, Feb. 16.
"I let myself down in the first fight," Taylor told fight writer Steve Carp of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "I didn't come in prepared. I didn't train as much as I should have.
"I learned a big lesson," Taylor said.
Taylor said he is running five miles a day, working hard at Tocco's Gym. His new chief trainer, Ozel Nelson - who has been working with Taylor since he was 13 - is now completely in charge.
Taylor, promoted by Lou DiBella, said he will remain in Las Vegas for training. Pavlik is in Youngstown, Ohio where he is working with his long-time trainer, Jack Loew.
Top Rank and DiBella Entertainment are promoting Pavlik vs. Taylor which will be available on HBO Pay Per View.