Are we completely disregarding the fact that Taylor doesn't keep his hands up?

[Kobe Bryant]

Seriously I think this is a huge point to talk about. For the majority of the fight he keeps both his shoulders dropped and one of his arms hanging to his knees. And it's not like he's jabbing with that arm. This is the main reason why I think he'll lose or ultimately get KOed. Not becuase I'm such a huge Pavlik fan. But becuase he is a big guy with good punching power who will come forward. And he will have plenty of opportunities to hit Taylor in my opinion.

I have yet to see Taylor roll a punch or make a conscious effort to cover up. Only in the Hopkins fight when he was hurt he tied up with Hopkins.

[Panamaniac]

Not keeping one's dukes up is not - in and of itself - a fatal flaw. See Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard...

[SkillspayBills]

It really isn't that important, what is important is if he stopped doing that "bow and arrow" crap that leaves him open for a counter.

[Welter_Skelter]

Not keeping one's dukes up is not - in and of itself - a fatal flaw. See Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard...

Yeah But Ali and Leonard also had foot speed Taylor seems to lack...

[Froch You]

Yeah But Ali and Leonard also had foot speed Taylor seems to lack...

Good point. Taylor's got less rhythm than me

It really isn't that important, what is important is if he stopped doing that "bow and arrow" crap that leaves him open for a counter.

I've been saying that for years. He has faster hands than Pavlik but that Bow and Arrow punch takes a while to wind up so Pavlik and Taylor might trade right hands at the same time.

[SpeedKillz]

well, i'm not disregarding that fact, thats why i think pavlik is gonna win...

[revs1227]

keeping you hands up is s0o0o important, unless u got the foot speed down ..which he does not, n e one whos been in a boxing ring knows teh 1st thing they tell u n show u how 2 do is keep ur hands up..
this is somthing ive never understod every fight i watch taylor in im scream put ur ***ing gloves up ! but hey he heanst lost yet so i cant talk **** about it till he does
just cant seem 2 call this fight 100%
i wanna go with pavlik late tko maybe 11 or 12

[Stromprophet]

Taylor uses the "Philly Shell" style defense. His hands aren't down. He has his right crossed over top and his left crossed over bottom. It only appears that his hands are down.

Regardless, Taylor hasn't proven a lot since he got the championship. Pavlick really was quite impressive over Miranda, now Miranda is not refined but look at his fight against Abraham, that was quite a battle, Miranda for sure has the power.

Taylor has the hand speed, but I don't know if in fact he is stronger than Pavlick. And I'd actually say Pavlicks combos are much more fluid and well put together than Taylors are, and Pavlick knows how to Jab, something Taylor is still working on.

[freedom213]

Seriously I think this is a huge point to talk about. For the majority of the fight he keeps both his shoulders dropped and one of his arms hanging to his knees. And it's not like he's jabbing with that arm. This is the main reason why I think he'll lose or ultimately get KOed. Not becuase I'm such a huge Pavlik fan. But becuase he is a big guy with good punching power who will come forward. And he will have plenty of opportunities to hit Taylor in my opinion.

I have yet to see Taylor roll a punch or make a conscious effort to cover up. Only in the Hopkins fight when he was hurt he tied up with Hopkins.

yes its a very good point and it seems to happen more when he gets pressured and starts hpping straight backwards. He also has a tendency to swell which i think will be a factor.

[Kobe Bryant]

I think it is important. He's no defensive guru by any means. He doesn't try and smother your punches by clinching. Nor does he roll punches like a Mayweather. He doesn't have good footwork. And he never moves around. Most of the time he's flat footed.

He's open for the jab all night. And when that happens it usually sets up another punch.