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Jermain Taylor is fighting the same opponent. He’s approaching training camp in a completely different way.
For the second time in his career, Little Rock’s Taylor will fight a rematch, this time against WBC / WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik on Feb. 16 in Las Vegas. But only the names on the MGM Grand Garden Arena marquee will be the same.
Taylor is just wrapping up his first full week of training, and according to new lead trainer Ozell Nelson, nothing is the same as when Taylor prepared to face Pavlik for their Sept. 29 fight in Atlantic City, N. J., which Pavlik won by a seventh-round knockout to take Taylor’s belts.
Taylor and Nelson opened this training camp in Las Vegas on Dec. 27 without former trainer Emanuel Steward and with a nastier attitude, Nelson said.
“Training is a whole lot different this time around,” Nelson said.
Taylor, as has been his custom, has moved training camp sites again. This time he’s training in Las Vegas at the renowned Johnny Tocco Gym. Taylor has not had training camp in the same city for successive fights since 2005, when he worked with Patrick Burns in Miami.
Also, Taylor is fighting at a catchweight of 166 pounds, rather than 160, so this time around Nelson and Taylor can focus more on boxing training and less on cardio work designed to cut weight.
But the biggest change, Nelson said, is Taylor’s attitude and approach to his time in the gym.
“Totally different,” Nelson said. “There’s a lot more focus, a lot more hungry. He’s a lot meaner. Jermain is not a nice person right now.” Throughout Taylor’s career, he has generally eased into training camp and saved his most intense workouts for the last weeks of camp.
Not this time.
“We got started [building intensity ] a lot sooner,” Nelson said. “It started the first day. The first day in the gym, he was focused, ready to beat up somebody. It’s definitely all business.” There is also a cast of new and old characters in camp.
Clifton “Nuk” Owens is back as Taylor’s camp manager, as he has been for most of Taylor’s professional career. Eric Castanos, who does mitt work and is Taylor’s main conditioning coach, is also back.
But for the first time, ****y Woods will be assisting Taylor. Woods was the trainer of the late, former 140-pound champion Diego Corrales, who died in a motorcycle accident May 8, 2007. Woods and Nelson have known each other for years, dating to Taylor’s amateur career.
Woods will serve as a second to Nelson, who is working as Taylor’s lead trainer for the first time in his protege’s professional career.
“It is a change,” Nelson said. “I’m doing more of the talking, deciding what to do next. It’s a change, but I’ve been here before. We’re doing fine.” Nelson said Taylor is only doing conditioning work right now and will begin sparring the middle of this week. Nelson said Taylor is only 10 pounds over weight and ahead of schedule.
The rest of the schedule for the Taylor-Pavlik pay-per-view card also is being finalized. Several fights, including some world title fights, have been announced, including a pair of super flyweight title fights.
Fernando Montiel will defend his WBO super flyweight title against former world champion Martin Castillo. WBC super flyweight champion Christian Mijares will be defending his title against three-time world title challenger Jose Navarro.
Also, Ronald Hearns will fight Juan Astorga in an eight-round junior middleweight bout. Other bouts, including a potential fight involving Little Rock heavyweight Terry Smith, are being discussed.
- Northwest Arkansas News Source
For the second time in his career, Little Rock’s Taylor will fight a rematch, this time against WBC / WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik on Feb. 16 in Las Vegas. But only the names on the MGM Grand Garden Arena marquee will be the same.
Taylor is just wrapping up his first full week of training, and according to new lead trainer Ozell Nelson, nothing is the same as when Taylor prepared to face Pavlik for their Sept. 29 fight in Atlantic City, N. J., which Pavlik won by a seventh-round knockout to take Taylor’s belts.
Taylor and Nelson opened this training camp in Las Vegas on Dec. 27 without former trainer Emanuel Steward and with a nastier attitude, Nelson said.
“Training is a whole lot different this time around,” Nelson said.
Taylor, as has been his custom, has moved training camp sites again. This time he’s training in Las Vegas at the renowned Johnny Tocco Gym. Taylor has not had training camp in the same city for successive fights since 2005, when he worked with Patrick Burns in Miami.
Also, Taylor is fighting at a catchweight of 166 pounds, rather than 160, so this time around Nelson and Taylor can focus more on boxing training and less on cardio work designed to cut weight.
But the biggest change, Nelson said, is Taylor’s attitude and approach to his time in the gym.
“Totally different,” Nelson said. “There’s a lot more focus, a lot more hungry. He’s a lot meaner. Jermain is not a nice person right now.” Throughout Taylor’s career, he has generally eased into training camp and saved his most intense workouts for the last weeks of camp.
Not this time.
“We got started [building intensity ] a lot sooner,” Nelson said. “It started the first day. The first day in the gym, he was focused, ready to beat up somebody. It’s definitely all business.” There is also a cast of new and old characters in camp.
Clifton “Nuk” Owens is back as Taylor’s camp manager, as he has been for most of Taylor’s professional career. Eric Castanos, who does mitt work and is Taylor’s main conditioning coach, is also back.
But for the first time, ****y Woods will be assisting Taylor. Woods was the trainer of the late, former 140-pound champion Diego Corrales, who died in a motorcycle accident May 8, 2007. Woods and Nelson have known each other for years, dating to Taylor’s amateur career.
Woods will serve as a second to Nelson, who is working as Taylor’s lead trainer for the first time in his protege’s professional career.
“It is a change,” Nelson said. “I’m doing more of the talking, deciding what to do next. It’s a change, but I’ve been here before. We’re doing fine.” Nelson said Taylor is only doing conditioning work right now and will begin sparring the middle of this week. Nelson said Taylor is only 10 pounds over weight and ahead of schedule.
The rest of the schedule for the Taylor-Pavlik pay-per-view card also is being finalized. Several fights, including some world title fights, have been announced, including a pair of super flyweight title fights.
Fernando Montiel will defend his WBO super flyweight title against former world champion Martin Castillo. WBC super flyweight champion Christian Mijares will be defending his title against three-time world title challenger Jose Navarro.
Also, Ronald Hearns will fight Juan Astorga in an eight-round junior middleweight bout. Other bouts, including a potential fight involving Little Rock heavyweight Terry Smith, are being discussed.
- Northwest Arkansas News Source