Taylor-Pavlik Rematch Clause For 168-Pounds
LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas - Jermain Taylor and Kelly Pavlik are close to a deal to put their undefeated records on the line in a fight for Taylor's middleweight boxing championship.
A person close to the negotiations said on Friday nothing has been signed, but HBO and Harrah's Entertainment have been told the fight will happen. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because an official announcement has not been made. The fight is expected to take place on Sept. 29 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
If Pavlik (31-0) wins, a rematch would take place at the super middleweight level. Taylor's team has become increasingly concerned lately about the champion's ability to slim down to the 73-kilogram (160-pound) middleweight limit.
Taylor beat Bernard Hopkins in 2005 to win the middleweight title. He then beat Hopkins in a rematch and escaped with a draw against Winky Wright. He then outpointed Kassim Ouma and Cory Spinks, two fighters up from the junior middleweight ranks.
Taylor (27-0-1) drew criticism for fighting the two smaller opponents, but there should be few complaints about his next foe. Pavlik fought on the Taylor-Spinks undercard in May in Memphis, Tennessee. He stopped Edison Miranda in an action-packed seven-round bout that in many ways upstaged Taylor's split decision over Spinks.