If Taylor loses to Pavlik again....

[moofo]

In their re-match which for some unknown reason has to be at 166lbs.

Would there be any point in Taylor moving up to 168?

He has struggled with men who were better suited to 154.
Struggled with an old Hopkins.
And lost to the first genuine 160 pounder he met in Pavlik.
What would make Taylor's chances any better by moving up?
Especially to a division which at the moment as a rich vein of talent unlike the 160 division.
If taylor can't beat Pavlik how will he beat the likes of Kessler?

[kayjay]

I'd still watch him against Kessler, though my money would be on Kessler.

Miranda and he have a grudge, though television might not be interested.

He could compete with Lacy, Manfredo, and maybe challenge Bute or Froch. He'd be a nice name on anyone's resume really. Even Kessler could use the publicity.

But Taylor could also win against Pavlik, which would change everything.

[moofo]

Yeah I know he might win...thats why I said "What if he loses ...".
Would he have the drive to carry on?
I agree he would be a name for peoples record but after being Champ at 160 would he be motivated to try again up the ladder?
One fight I would like to see is the Taylor V Miranda up at 168.

[Crazylegs77]

Taylor should have had to fight Miranda then the winner should be facing Pavlik for a rematch.

Pavlik should be fighting to unify in the mean time.


I think Taylor will be game at super middle, not everyon is a huge puncher, but agains top guys Its hard to say. I think he has won in the past by making up for skill with more effort in the ring which can only take someone so far.

[kayjay]

Yeah I know he might win...thats why I said "What if he loses ...".
Would he have the drive to carry on?
I agree he would be a name for peoples record but after being Champ at 160 would he be motivated to try again up the ladder?
One fight I would like to see is the Taylor V Miranda up at 168.

Hopkins lost twice at 160, then moved up. Everyone forgave him and even pretended the losses never took place.

Let's hop that doesn't happen again.

[moofo]

Hopkins lost twice at 160, then moved up. Everyone forgave him and even pretended the losses never took place.

Let's hop that doesn't happen again.

Hehe I agree.

[MojoHands]

Hopkins wasn't knocked out or even beaten up in either of his loses to Taylor (much easy to forgive and forget than a definitive KO). Add the marketing aspect of him being 40 years old and the fact he jumped up to LHW to take the title from the "legend killer" Tarver (and this guy was coming off of a win against Rocky Balboa). Furthermore, Taylor certainly hasn't increased his fan base during his middleweight reign, in fact I'd argue the opposite. He's got a tough road ahead of him if he loses to Pavlik, but you're right that he'll be a good name for other people's resumes. Maybe Bernard can give Taylor some lessons in Marketing 101, but I'd doubt he'd listen.

[Sugar_ITA]

If he loses again he'll have other 4 easy fights before fighting a titleholder. With JC moving up to 175 (?) he'll be a force in supermiddleweight division. I see him winning against everyone except Kessler.

[Spirit]

I don't think it was so much of the fact that he lost to 154 lbsers, he fought the most difficult, terrible looking fighters in that division and managed to win. If Taylor would lose a second time, he could still be a force in the SMW division. The man may have lost to Pavlik, but he showed the kind of power and guts people were used to seeing of him before his fights with Hopkins. He lost to a great champion, a heavy hitter who I believe deserves the #1 spot at MW, there's no shame in that. SMW has great fighters who could give Taylor hell, but I think Taylor could hold his own and win a belt there

[TopDawg]

Who knows, he may be able to win a belt there but I don't see him unifying the Division in any way.