Pavlik's Trainer Anticipates The Old Taylor

[TheGreatA]

I think Pavlik should prepare for a Taylor who will do everything just to survive the distance. Taylor thought he was losing the last fight but the judges scored it almost a shut-out for him. I bet he thinks the judges will go for him even if he just hangs on.

Look for Taylor to throw a lot of meaningless weak punches, back-pedal and clinch a lot. I doubt this fight is going to be as good as the last one because Taylor has probably found out now that he is not going to push back Pavlik by brawling with him.

I think Pavlik manages to hunt him down anyway and win by TKO or decision.

It's going to be quite different if Taylor decides to brawl with him again. Could be a toss-up because Taylor does have quicker handspeed. Now if he just learns how to finish and control himself he could actually win this thing.

[ElGranLuchador]

all pavlik gotta do to win this fight is show up
taylor launched everything at him and couldnt beat him
he wont be able to run around cuz of pavliks reach
i see no way taylor beats pavlik unless its a robbery

[Azteca]

just so you guys no the weight isnt gonna really mean ****, because they are both gonna balloon back up to 170-175 right after the weigh ins, just like they did at 160, they are gonna both end up weighing the same they did for the first fight anyways. The first fight the night of the fight pavlik was 170 taylor 173. Its gonna end up being the same this time.

Actually it does mean alot because they dont have to cut 6 freakin' pounds. They are both giants at 160, also.

Genius.

[GunStar]

The majority of the people he killed were blown up 154-pounders. Hopkins was his first big middleweight opponent.

And Hopkins was the King, Poopo.

[Tobi.G]

I'm still confused as to why Jermain took the challenge at 166. I know it was tough for him to make 160 for YEARS, but Pavlik will be seemingly even stronger at 166 because he is the taller guy.

Not because hes taller, cause hes bigger. Taylor is big also but Pavlik looks like a few pounds more muscle would do him good and i think the same as Loew, its a bigger advantage for Pavlick than for Taylor.

[Tobi.G]

And you kn ow what, after feeling how strong and good he is at 166, Pavlick will never go down to 160 anymore but move to 168, which means that Abraham has to move up also if he wants to fight Pavlick cause just as Pavlick, Abraham has difficulties to make 160. Man it will be great, Abraham, Pavlick, Taylor and Miranda at 168, there will be room for some interesting matches and rematches! And its good for Sturm, cause he will stay at 160 and when the best have moved up to 160 he finally can say hes the best at 160! lol

[Hitman88]

all pavlik gotta do to win this fight is show up
taylor launched everything at him and couldnt beat him
he wont be able to run around cuz of pavliks reach
i see no way taylor beats pavlik unless its a robbery

Preparation & strategy is the key to winning any bout (esp. a rematch). Pavlik isnt going to change his strategy at all because that's the style that best suits him and it was highly effective in the first fight. Taylor, on the other hand, has a huge upside if both he and his trainer approach the fight intelligently. Pavlik may be the naturally bigger fighter but Taylor is the better athlete and has the faster hands & feet. He & trainer Nelson simply need to revert back to the basics which for him begins & ends with utilizing an effective jab (to set up his shots) which he's been using more inconsistently over the course of previous fights. He may even want to incorporate using lead rights as well in order to avoid getting countered w/ pavlik rights over the top of the jab. He's got to keep that left hand up in order to neutralize pavlik's greatest asset-the right hand. If you watched the first bout, taylor constantly kept his left low & his torso bent forward which essentially invited pavlik to knock him the f!ck out. If you're going to fight w/ your hands low against a big time puncher, you better have great head movement & reflexes which jermaine did NOT display. That being said, straight up your upper body more & block that right at all cost. Secondly, his conditioning needs to be better because if he's saying he gassed himself out in the second round (following the pavlik knockdown) then his stamina was in the trash. If he comes in great shape, devises a game plan to lessen the effects of pavlik's straight right, & is focused, he should fare quite well.

[eazy_mas]

Taylor jab was his best weapon he looked bad against Winky because he wasnt active with his jab.

[Haglerwins]

Taylor's best chance is to finish Pavlik early. There's no way he can escape 12 rounds of power like that, not with his tendency to back into the ropes when flustered and cross block with his right while his left is dropped. I disagreed with his assessment of the fight when Merchant got a hold of him when it was over. He needed more energy to dispense early, not the conservation approach to win. That fight was there for him in the beginning. He was dead tired in his tracks after 1 flurry and couldn't put anything on Pavlik after the KD to keep the pressure on him. It must have been the weight, because that's terrible for someone who was pretty isolated up in the poconos, and supposedly doing all of this "running" (on top of sparring) to be finished after one string of punches.

[Pugilistic™]

pavlik will be stronger at 166. he will tko taylor again no doubt. taylor to win needs to improve his stamina and work on his defense coz thats the only way he stands a chance