Taylor - Pavlik I & II, reconsidered

[SkillspayBills]

I won't be upset if Taylor wins. I will partly regret having picked it wrong, but we can all be wrong, no? I'll be happy to see Taylor's career back on track.

Taylor has earned my respect. Both Pavlik and Taylor are warriors. The first fight was a classic. I don't expect that we'll get that again, since that doesn't happen all the time. But both guys earned their large paychecks in September.

Without a doubt. I can caoncur to the fact that the second fight more than likely won't be as good as the first but if it does end before the final bell it should be a good watch. There are alot of "If's" involved in this bout so it is intriguing to see how it plays out, I for one can't wait.

This morning I watched the fight for the third time. Each time it looked better for Pavlik. I'm not going to bother going through round by round (I did that on the second viewing: http://www.boxingscene.com/forums/sh....php?t=156348), but Pavlik said some things on the Countdown that gave me reason to rewatch.

1. According to Leow, Pavlik claims to have realized he had JT beaten when Taylor's pec quivered. This was BEFORE Kelly landed the big right hand that pushed Taylor back to the corner. When did Kelly hurt JT so badly that the TKO became inevitable? This happened very gradually, though I still think the key punch in the fight, if there was one, was a right hand in the middle of Round 6.

This is important only against the theory that Pavlik at some point turned the fight around. I watched the fight this morning with this in mind, and it was indeed a slow, steady beating without genuine turning points. It doesn't matter that JT won a few of those rounds. Kelly doesn't need the rounds, he takes a toll even in rounds he's losing.


2. Pavlik said he's not sure Jermaine's body can last the fight. He understands how he broke him down, that Taylor cannot take the punishment he has to give. I had wondered whether JT could win a decision in the rematch. I now think there's little to no chance of it going the distance.


3. Taylor made the better technical adjustments. By the fifth round Taylor had figured out Pavlik's timing on his punches. Taylor managed to slip jabs and rights and come back with his own shots. But Pavlik never ceased, he didn't let losing the battle diminish his output. I realized in that round this morning that even if Taylor wins the first eight rounds next week, he'll get knocked out after that. So don't bother keeping a scorecard next week.


Until today I was giving Taylor a chance. No more.

So to clarify... you spent the morning studying Taylor's pecs?

[Ray*]

Pavlik would KO taylor's ass again, He isnt even going leave his chin out like he did in the second round again..It would be much more easier this time around.

[MELLY-MEL...]

Pavlik is almost perfect technically.... he is not flashy.. nor is he overly quick..
So a less schooled fan might not recognise his Subtle movements.His ring cutting skills.. nor the effectiveness of his punching technique..

But the results speak for themselves... Pavlik is a true Old school technician

exactly correct my friend, yet so many refuse to see this!

[PBDS]

I won't be upset if Taylor wins. I will partly regret having picked it wrong, but we can all be wrong, no? I'll be happy to see Taylor's career back on track.

Taylor has earned my respect. Both Pavlik and Taylor are warriors. The first fight was a classic. I don't expect that we'll get that again, since that doesn't happen all the time. But both guys earned their large paychecks in September.

...I am rooting for Pavlik but I feel the same way. I respect both guys as boxers and as family men. Two of the nice guys in the sport. Instead of beating up each other they should concentrate on beating up the bad guys. I almost don't want Taylor to lose because I suspect it may completely derail his career. This is one of those fights that's must see but I really don't want to see either guy get badly beaten up.

[oldgringo]

I had bashed Taylor for failing to win fights decisively leading up to the Pavlik fight. I almost want to see Taylor prevail in this bout just so he doesn't become one of these forgotten talents if Pavlik should crush him again. Taylor does have a lot of natural athletic talent and he seems to be a good guy. I feel like another loss would kill his motivation and his post-Pavlik career would be sad.

I am rooting for Pavlik but I feel the same way. I respect both guys as boxers and as family men. Two of the nice guys in the sport. Instead of beating up each other they should concentrate on beating up the bad guys. I almost don't want Taylor to lose because I suspect it may completely derail his career. This is one of those fights that's must see but I really don't want to see either guy get badly beaten up.

Same here well said.

[Hitman932]

...I am rooting for Pavlik but I feel the same way. I respect both guys as boxers and as family men. Two of the nice guys in the sport. Instead of beating up each other they should concentrate on beating up the bad guys. I almost don't want Taylor to lose because I suspect it may completely derail his career. This is one of those fights that's must see but I really don't want to see either guy get badly beaten up.

its def gonna be rough for taylor if he loses this fight. the 160 and 168 divisions are blowing up with some real tough fighters, its gonna be hard for jermaine to make any money without putting himself in a position to get beaten again and again when he moves up.

guys like kessler, miranda, calzaghe, bute, inkin and froch would all give him hell.... there is no place for him to hide

[Dorian]

it could go either way in my opinion

[Crazylegs77]

Yeah Im leaning towars Pavlik he has tremendous will and after the first KO I think JT is going in to this fight already losing mentally, he changed a bunch of stuff like his training and got rid of Manny when he what he did wrong in the first bout was not listen to his corner and his defense could have been better.

[Scott9945]

I don't want to jinx Pavlik by saying that he's guaranteed to win, but I am picking him and am glad that the ref being used is not one that usually stops fight prematurely.

Who is the referee for the rematch?