Pavlik Stops Taylor in Seven!
Taylor came our aggressively in round one and appeared to be the quicker fighter, but he also seemed to be expending a lot of nervous energy in each round with an uncharacteristically herky-jerky defense. Taylor was also inefficient and wild while trying to finish off Pavlik after he had him down with lots of time to go in the second. Pavlik remained on his feet for the remainder of round two by showing a lot of heart - and the presence of mind to hold on - as Taylor flailed away trying to score the knock out.
Pavlik had heavier hands than Taylor and came forward throughout, often pushing Taylor back into the ropes. In round seven, Pavlik knew he hurt Taylor with a big right and made sure the champ wouldn't make it to the end of the round. As the champ staggered back into the corner (and made no attempt to hold on), Pavlik followed and demonstrated his ability to finish an opponent as he remained under control while continuing to a land a series of heavy blows. Referee Steve Smoger jumped in to stop the fight as a defenseless Taylor slumped to his knees at 2:14.
Punch stats had Pavlik landing 180 of 460 punches (39%) to 182 of 369 (49%) for Taylor.
It's a good thing for Pavlik that he scored the knock out because the judges were apparently the only three people watching the fight that thought Taylor was dominating. Through six rounds, HBO's Harold Lederman had it 57-56 for Pavlik. In the post fight interviews, both Pavlik and Taylor said they thought Pavlik was winning the fight. Nevertheless, all three judges had Taylor ahead by scores of 59-54, 58-55 and 58-55.
A rematch clause may give fight fans the opportunity to see Pavlik-Taylor II in the not-too-distant future ... possibly at a weight above 160.
Comments
Exactly what I thought, with the exception of Pavlik going down. Great fight by both fighters, both need to work on their defense. If they rematch, Pavlick in 5…Taylor needs to find his jab of old.
A great middle weight fight. I predicted that Kelly would win but I didn’t realize it would be in such dramatic fashion. It is just one of the fights of the awesome fall fight fight line up including the big 5- Pavlik/Taylor, Paquaio/Barrera, Calzaghe/Kessler, Cotto/Mosley, Mayweather/Hatton. Despite the haults boxing is running strong. Great Great fight.
I agree that Pavlik now has the mental edge over Taylor. The rematch should be easier for Pavlik. He didn’t just crush Jermain physically but emotionally; he looked as though he was starting to cry when the cameras turned away from him in the locker room.
Lou Dibella Pays Off The Referees!
I have to confess that I had decided to not watch this fight due to the incredible boredom typically associated with Taylor’s fights. Granted he has fought some very awkward fighters but he was beginning to strike me as another PBF-styled fighter, more interested in looking good than making exciting fights. Well happily I tuned in round 2 out of curiosity and I have to say this was one of the most exciting fights I’ve seen in the last few years. I’ll definitely be watching for the rematch and I have a new respective for Taylor. He fought well and was noble in defeat.
My only peeve was the commentating by Lennox Lewis. It was obvious Pavlik was the heavier hitter (the swelling around the eyes is usually a visual clue Lennox) and his comment about Smoger denying Taylor an opportunity to get off the deck seemed disconnected from the reality that Taylor was crumpled like a ragdoll in the corner. Maybe next time HBO should have someone comment on the fight who doesn’t have such a deep connection to the corner in the ring.
Yes, that was a great fight! Hard to come by these days. Pavlik is going to be around a long time. I just came to this site to check the before and after on this Pound-for-Pound Top 50 list. Before Kelly Pavlik beat Jermain Taylor he was #38 while Taylor was #4. Now Taylor dropped to being #10 on the list and Pavlik moved up 20 spots to #18… interesting. Speaking of lists, create your own list of Web links here.
I AGREE I DONT KNOW WHAT FIGHT THE JUDGES WERE WATCHING .THANK GOD HE KNOCKED HIM OUT. LOOKS LIKE THEY WERE GOING TO ROB HIM.AND GET RID OF LENOX LEWIS
Good write-up. Pavlik got no respect going into this fight. Especialy from DiBella who said because he was white he got too much ink. Well, because he is white he is not getting the respect he now deserves. Pavlik is a finisher and Taylor is not. That was a major difference.
In some ways this was not a great fight, but worth watching because of the end. I originally picked Pavlik by a knowkout, but figured Taylor would win if it went the distance because of the way Taylor fights have been judged. I was amazed when Taylor got to Pavlik in the second round and knocked him down and almost, just almost ended it there, but I was not amazed when Pavlik got up. He not only survived but he got more determined each round and was stronger and, as expected Taylor started to fade. Teddy Atlas, the best commentator around, has it right. Boxing is first of all metal and second physical. Pavlik is a smart and a very determined guy very much in the Old School of fighting for himself and his fans and for his town. In this case Youngstown was out in force and you knew Kelly had no intention of letting them dow. Taylor is of the new world of boxing, carefully watched with matches he can handle and he has been very unimpressive most of his fights. He lost the Winky Wright fight, but the judges gave him a phony draw, and a case can be made that he lost the second Hopkins fight. Pavlik was picked because the handlers figured Taylor would handle an “over-rated” white kid from Ohio, never mind his awesome record. They also figured he would be picked by the judges if it went the distance. To his credit, Taylor really wanted this fight to look good and he really tried.
Pavlik looked a lot bigger than Taylor, the first time Taylor has faced such a big opponent, and he hits like a mule. He hurt Taylor a number of times early. Pavlik got up from a bad knockdown, showing his heart. Taylor did not get up, because he was beaten in all the ways a fighter can get beat. There is a rematch clause and I see Taylor wanting it bad and fast. But I think he would be better served if his management convinces him to find himself again, with one and maybe two tune up fights before taking on Pavlik.
I was really disapponted in the way Lennox Lewis called the fight. He was not good. It is time for HBO to get rid of Lewis and Lampley for that matter. Let’s get Teddy Atlas in there.
Great fight!!! I too wonder how these judges score fights. But then I have been wary of judges for 50 years. Now that boxing is coming back, wouldn’t it be nice if someone would look at the qualifications of judges. Was that Harold Lederman’s wife?
I knew it, I predicted it! Pavilik is the truth! However, the middleweight that can dance and box Pavilik with rthym and a slick streetish style like my Roy would make pavlick look like a total amatuer. So heres my rematch prediction, if jermain Taylor can get on his toes, dance, stick and jab he’ll knock pavlick out in 8 rounds. If he fights flat footed again he’ll go down again probably in the 4th round or early 5th. Right now, Calzaghe is about the only one I think could come in and whoop Pavlick, but he’sd have to dance on Pavlik if he does thats an easy fight for Calzaghe. Jermain needs to get a trainer who’ll teach him to bounce, Jab, slip and move until Pavlik gets tired, then bring the noise and send my homeboy ‘Big “P” back to the outskirts of Cleveland… Pavlik my man, see if you can avoid that rematch for a minute, get out there and shine for a while, you are the man, enjoy it! So sayeth “Lito!”…lol
One more thing I just have to check my man Lenox Lewis, Lenox you lost all 12 rounds in 1996 to Ray Mercer. The judges Robbed Ray Mercer Blind, I didnt give you a single round in that fight, chances are you wouldnt be in the history books at all if you’d lost that fight. I’m not hatin but dog you got beat down by Ray Mercer Period!
So Sayeth “Lito!”…lol
For Bill Vanson: That was not Harold Lederman’s wife, it was his daughter. She is usually on target with scores. harold was! But she had Taylor ahead…way wrong.
I think Carlito is wrong on Taylor and how he can win. Taylor is not a dancer or a stick and run guy. He has shown a really good jab in the past for sure. The proble with Pavlik was that Pavlik has a longer and harder jab than Taylor. Sure Pavlik is a stand up guy, but he does block shots with fast hands. Taylor has more speed, but he cannot match the power of Pavlik. In any rematch, Pavlik will know he can really hurt Taylor, and in any rematch, Taylor will know he was badly hurt and that he lost for the first time. I think it would be in Taylor’s interest to do some confidence building and have one and even two tune-up matches, just to feel like a winner again. It is in Pavlik’s interest to have at least one match before the Taylor rematch, but the question is who? He won’t do Calzaghe before a Taylor rematch–the Taylor rematch is the big dollar fight. And by the time Pavlik does take on Calzaghe, Calzaghe will be 40 I think. I don’ think he would fight Pavlik in the U.S. and Pavlik would be nuts to fight in Europe.
Kelly Pavlik has a bad habit of sticking out his tongue and making faces when he gets hit hard and in trouble and then drops his hands. He did it to Jermaine Taylor and got floored immediately. He had better correct this stupid,macho behavior if he wants to be a champion fighter.
Calzaghe is a freak, being 40 wont phase him and I think his boxing skillz would expose Pavlik. as far as Taylor he’s just gonna have to be trained to get up on his toes, if he can learn to box with mobility sort of like a Muhammed Ali type of style, he’s peerless for at least another 3-5 years. Pavlik would be able to find him but he’d catch Pavlik all day! He dropped the Ghost once so Pavlik knows he can taste the matt at the hands of Taylor as well. Taylor needs Buddy Mcgirt as his trainer, Mcgirt extended Auturo Gatti’s carreer by teaching him to be slick, stick and move. Thats what Taylor needs and if he gets it the butt whoopinz he’ll dish out will be the stuff of legends. So Sayeth Lito!!…lol
Pavlik was bigger and stronger and had a better chin. If Taylor does not work on his defense and learn to stay away from the right by holding his left up, he will go even earlier. If Pavlik puts on strength without abandoning his movement, next week will be a massacre for Taylor. This time Pavlik will show him absolutely no respect and may blow him completely out. However, if somehow it goes the distance and Talylor avoids the knock out flurry he may win a decision. If Taylor built up his strength/indurance/defense and retains his speed, get ready for the third fight.