I think the difference between Taylor and GGG is Taylor has maybe a slight edge on speed and blind side counter punching: you're less likely to see the shot. Given how granite chinned GGG is, he's more like the Terminator, still defensively astute while at the same time, utterly relentless, particularly with the feet and cutting off the ring. GGG and Pavlik would have both met centre of the ring with either only retreating on getting stunned, it would have been a FOTY if not FOTD candidate.
Lemieaux is too undersized and too fragile to ever be truly competitive against a peak Pavlik. I honestly believe that Pavlik would have dealt with Lemieaux in similar fashion to how he beat Gary Lockett, give or take a few rounds.
If GGG tried stalking and cutting off the ring against Pavlik, he wouldn't last long. C'mon, where's all the size supporters? Kelly was so much bigger, though!
He was mainly taller and not close to as technically sound as 3G. Not to mention his defense is much better than people give him credit for. 3G gets him out late IMO.
For the people thinking Golovkin stops Pavlik mid rounds. Lets take some things into consideration. Golovkin, in general, has a history of tactical boxing when in against power punchers. With this in mind, I think its safe to assume that he would be the one on the backfoot against Pavlik, whose combination of size, aggression and power makes him unlike anything Golovkin has fought before. If we reasonably assume Golovkin is boxing tactfully here, and we add Pavliks size and ruggidness into play, I question why people think Pavlik gets stopped before the 11th or 12th, if at all. Fighters that lasted longer than 7 rounds against a prime Golovkin Ouma went 10 Lemieux went 8 Murray went 11 Stevens went 8 and Jacobs went the distance, although Id argue Golovkin was a bit past prime by then. Fighters Golovkin actually stopped before 7 were the likes of... Monroe went 6 Wade went 2 Brook went 5 Macklin went 3 Ishida went 3 Proksa went 5 Rosado got to the 7th and was stopped on cuts/accumulation. ect If we look at a prime Kelly Pavlik, I have little doubt which category he would go in there. Nothing about the matchup suggests Golovkin walks through him, and I find it highly unlikely Golovkin stops Pavlik before 10, I think it going the distance wouldnt be an unlikely scenario.
Man, I hadnt though about that fight for so long (Pavlik vs Miranda), I practically forgot about that gem. I dont think Pavlik was dropped against Miranda though? I could be wrong because its been forever though lol. I thought Taylor 1 was his only knockdown? Prime Martinez at middleweight could crack as well, and I dont think he ever really hurt Pavlik either (again, could be wrong lol, been forever) But ya I agree he probably doesnt get the knockdown against Golovkin.
I hear you man, but personally I think a lot of that was due to the class of fighter he was facing. No way he could do that to a prime Pavlik, imo. I do think his overall skills could prove to be the difference maker in the fight though. Pavlik is rather one dimensional, and I think maybe Golovkin could try to turn it into a boxing match and win that, though it would be interesting to see him do that against Pavliks reach and height.
Pavlik was dropped by Taylor, Fernando Zuniga, and Mathias Bedburdick 7:29 This content is protected Timestamped This content is protected Bronko McKart dropped him too but it was a flash balance KD
GGG's punch placement is too good, and Pavlik wasn't defensively sound enough. I think it would be a exciting war while it lasts, but GGG is the sturdier of the two and he would stop Pavlik.
