KEYS TO VICTORY: Pavlik vs Taylor?

[Da Truth 35]

Pavlik:simolew force Taylor to the ropes make him work and struggle his way out.

Taylor: use his gifted reach work the jab at an angle , counter with Pavliks slugging style, and use combinations of the jab

[shawn_]

No idea where anyone would get the idea that Jermain Taylor has the longest reach in boxing. His reach is only a rather average 74 inches. Compare that to...

Paul Williams - 82 inch
Bernard Hopkins - 75 inch
Antonio Tarver - 75 inch

He doesn't even have a longer reach than these little men...

Shane Mosley - 74 inch
Fernando Vargas - 74 inch

Most importantly, he doesn't have a longer reach than...

Kelly Pavlik - 75 inch

[shawn_]

Just in-case anyone tries to claim that Jermain Taylor has a height advantage, here are the stats.

Kelly Pavlik - 6'2 1/2"
Jermain Taylor - 6'1"

[kayjay]

Each guy has advantages. Pavlik in power and chin, Taylor in speed and experience. I don't know who will win. Worse, I don't know how they will fight. I don't really understand Taylor as a fighter; I watch his fights but I don't get a great idea of what he wants to do.

[Derranged_]

Taylor better be ready for a fast physical fight as Pavlik likes to come forward, has a high work rate, and has great power. Taylor has to use his speed and ring generalship to neutralize Pavlik's brawling style. I would also go on to say that Taylor has to stay on the offense and press the action and hopefully frustrate Pavlik....

[shawn_]

My Keys to Victory-

Jermain Taylor:
1) You posses a high level of natural athletic ability; use it. Stay on your toes and use the ring. DO NOT try and trade punches with the stronger Pavlik.
2) You posses a stellar jab; use it. You are not going to knock out the bigger Pavlik, so make sure to pile up rounds with your jab.
3) Keep your hands high. You have a habit of holding your left hand down by your hip. You need to protect yourself from the hard hitting Pavlik.
4) Keep your man moving. Pavlik has a tenancy to fall off balance when he throws bombs, keep him moving.
5) You have the advantage in hand speed, don't be scared to counter.

Kelly Pavlik:
1) You are ambidextrous, don't let Taylor forget this fact. If you occasionally turn southpaw and hook off of your jab, you will catch Taylor with his left hand down.
2) Use your uppercuts. Taylor likes to lean forward, make him pay.
3) Counter over the jab. Taylor drops his hand after he Jabs, make him pay. Throw your right hand to take advantage.
4) You are the bigger man, Use your height and range.

[shawn_]

My prediction:

Kelly Pavlik by KO.

Reason:

Jermain Taylor appears unable, or unwilling to put in the work needed to improve his defensive liabilities.

I do not believe that Taylor has the chin to stand up to the bombs that Pavlik is capable of delivering with both hands. Taylor appears to have lost his hunger. Although Taylor does have a high level of natural athletic ability, it is no longer enough to make up for his flaws.

He will be overwhelmed by Pavliks volume punching, and will swell severely. I predict Pavlik wins by TKO in round 8. Taylor will no longer be able to see out of his left eye.

[frankpaganini]

The Keys To Victory:

Jermain Taylor

1. Taylor (at ALL times in the fight) MUST use his jab to keep Kelly Pavlik away.

2. Taylor will have to move his head and be a slick boxer (NOT brawler)

3. Taylor MUST keep moving and utilizing the WHOLE ring from the opening bell to the final bell. he can NOT allow pavlik to set his feet and wind up for a big punishing shot.

4. This one might seem obvious but a lot of fighters get in the ring and overlook this...PROTECT YOURSELF AT ALL TIMES . I've seen fighters get in the ring and become overly relaxed and begin to let their hands slowly droop down near their waistline. taylor can not afford to do this because if he does Pavlik (i guarantee it) will make him pay (to say the least).

5. When Pavlik thinks he has something going he tends to let his punches get real wide and looping. Taylor needs to use this to his advantage and slip out of the way of the looping shots and counter with a good hook to the body (early in the fight) and good hook to pavlik's chin (late in the fight). If taylor does this he will slowly wear down pavlik and it will keep pavlik away.


6. Taylor (and his cornermen) are far more experienced than pavlik (and his cornermen) and taylor needs to use his experience to his advantage and not get caught up in the hype of the reactions from the crowd. He needs to use what he learned and use it effectively and he can out think pavlik in a chess match style fight. taylor needs to be smart and pick his shots and slowly break down pavlik.

7. Even though taylor is the shorter man in the fight and shorter armed fighter he has to fight like the taller man and the bigger man. Pavlik's taller...has the reach...and his power is superior to taylor's and taylor needs to remember that and not go into the fight acting like he has something to prove and try to brawl with pavlik because it wont work. im not saying taylor can't stun pavlik temporarily but i highly advise against trying to mix it up too much with pavlik. he's going to have to fight a floyd mayweather jr/cory spinks type fight...not a miguel cotto or edision miranda or even diego corrales type fight. he cant go in and try to go from the homerun punch. he has to do it slowly and smoothly.

If taylor can do these things effectively i can see him winning a 12 round decision. if he cant i can see pavlik winning a decision or possibly a knockout win.

Kelly Pavlik

1. Cut off the ring. Plain and simple. Taylor wont stand in front of you or allow you to stand in front of him

2. get him on the ropes. if pavlik can pin taylor against the ropes he can set his feet and start swinging with those heavy hands and really rack up the points and do a lot of damage in very little time.

3. Go to the body of taylor. taylor is going to be slick and run, pavlik needs to get in close (not completely on the inside) but JUST close enough to reach taylor and get in some good body shots to slow him down. he should also do that if he can pin taylor against the ropes...dont get head hunting right away...go for the body first.

4. Be the aggressor. taylor is not going to press this fight, you will have to. Keep coming forward but keep those hands up and use the jab to get inside and back out again. be careful because if you leave an opening taylor will make him pay. this will help get him points on the judges scorecards (for his heart and determination)

5. be smart. get your boxing techniques and mechanics in tip top shape and use them because taylor has the experience and he will be looking for mistakes you make and make you pay for them

6. look for taylor to throw double and triple jabs. when he does this he will be throwing a good right to follow. he uses the multiple jabs as a distraction and will be looking for a good right so when this happens move outside to your right before taylor has a chance to land the shot.

7. use your jab to get inside and to get back out otherwise taylor will smack you with a good stiff right.

those are my keys to victory for both fighters and if i had the chance to work with them before the fight thats exactly what i'd be telling them. im sure taylor's cornermen are telling him the same thing (or at least something very similar)

so look for the to be a beefed up Oscar de la hoya v. floyd mayweather fight.

i say "beefed" up because pavlik will play oscar's role by pressing the fight and flurring but with more power than de la hoya.

taylor will play mayweather's part but wont exactly run...he'll be punching as well.

thats the type of fight i expect to see (kind of)

If i pick with my heart: Taylor. i like taylor as a fighter and would love to see him retain the title.

my brain is undecided because its such a close fight and whoever brings their A-game should win the fight.

[shawn_]

I disagree with the point that Pavlik should try and back Taylor up. Taylor doesn't put up his hands unless he feels he is in imminent danger, like being back up against the ropes.

Pavlik wants to keep Taylor in the center of the ring. He wants Taylor to feel safe so he will keep his hands down.

Pavliks game plan should be to slowly move backwards and draw Taylor in.

Pavlik needs to win this fight with his head. If he presses the fight hard and scares Taylor, he will lose this fight. Taylor will get on his bike and jab him to death.

He needs to let Taylor believe his can trade with him and come out on top (reason for slow retreat).

During this time he needs to pull his punches a bit. He wants Taylor to believe he can take Pavliks best shot.

After about 3 rounds of doing this, he needs to start to crank up the intensity and really start to put some pop behind his punches.

Once a fighter is drawn into a war, its is nearly impossible for them to get out of it.

If Pavlik can do this, and draw Taylor into a war, he will win. He can take Taylors best shots, but I doubt Taylor will be able to take his.

[Kball15]

I disagree with the point that Pavlik should try and back Taylor up. Taylor doesn't put up his hands unless he feels he is in imminent danger, like being back up against the ropes.

Pavlik wants to keep Taylor in the center of the ring. He wants Taylor to feel safe so he will keep his hands down.

Pavliks game plan should be to slowly move backwards and draw Taylor in.

Pavlik needs to win this fight with his head. If he presses the fight hard and scares Taylor, he will lose this fight. Taylor will get on his bike and jab him to death.

He needs to let Taylor believe his can trade with him and come out on top (reason for slow retreat).

During this time he needs to pull his punches a bit. He wants Taylor to believe he can take Pavliks best shot.

After about 3 rounds of doing this, he needs to start to crank up the intensity and really start to put some pop behind his punches.

Once a fighter is drawn into a war, its is nearly impossible for them to get out of it.

If Pavlik can do this, and draw Taylor into a war, he will win. He can take Taylors best shots, but I doubt Taylor will be able to take his.

Drawing Taylor in is one of the worst things Pavlik can do IMO. Pavlik is an offensive force. He uses his 90+ punches a round as his defense. His best chance is to try to get Taylor to the ropes where he can open up

And if they fight in the center of the ring, TAYLOR is gonna win for sure. Thats where he NEEDS the fight to be. Pavlik is to slow to have a chance at winning rounds against Taylor if its all in the center of the ring.

ANd Taylors lapses in defense come from overconfidence IMO. And if your opponent gets overconfident its because he's laying a beating on you. And letting your opponent beat you down is no way to win a fight. lol. Taylor leaves his hands down if hes losing anyway.