Im going with Pavlik after seing how he got back from some good punches in the 2 round. Although Andrade wont fold to the pressure - he will most likely be the one pressuring Pavlik!! Andrade is maybe tougher than Pavlik and has the same rugged style. Actually Im changing my mind. Andrade takes it. What are your thoughts?
pavlik by decision. andrade has good punching power, but his accuracy is that of a teenage boy getting his very first blowjob.
I was just thinking about this match because Dane brought it up. Here we'd have two rubbery warriors that would carry some serious punching power. Andrade no doubt takes a better shot than Pavlik, so you'd have to think if it came down to punch for punch Andrade would win by stoppage. Andrade I'd say is a fair bit slower than Pavlik, and probably not as sharp in his punching technique. And through that I believe that Pavlik would do more damage to Andrade than Andrade would do to Pavlik. Andrade's offense I'd put on par with someone like Edison Miranda. Very wide and wild, and not as fast. Kessler landed some flush shots on Andrade and couldn't drop him, so it's hard to see Pavlik getting that done. That said, I believe punch for punch Pavlik hits harder than Kessler. You also have to keep in mind that Pavlik is draining down to 160. His power at 160 is immense. So there is no reason to believe that he could not carry that power up in weight and add to it, like Felix Trinidad did from 147 to 154 and 160. I think Pavlik would get hit alot more than Kessler because Pavlik has subpar defense. He doesn't keep his elbows tucked and likes to keep his right hand halfway out there for a quick release. So he's more suspect to quick left hooks. He's also more impatient than Kessler in looking for opportunities. But that impatience may be the key for Pavlik winning. If his power carries to 168 like it has at 160, I could see Pavlik's power discouraging Andrade. I could see Andrade having some opportunities, but with Pavlik's defense being so ordinary, and the fact that he holds his right half-cocked, he'll be looking to lead all night. It's a great fight but I think the difference here is Pavlik won't be as defensive as Kessler was. Andrade could drop Pavlik but at the same time if Pavlik puts him on the back foot in retreat it's a sealed deal. This is where the matchup would be decided. I'll go with Pavlik's heart by late stoppage Zartuche style.
Let me add to this excellent post, that Pavliks defence is plain sloppy which is making this fight even more interesting. I mean - two guys with power and sloppy defence. One of them with a titanium chin - the other with a speed advantage. But remember that Andrade punches very awkward from all angles, even off balance and still delivers pop. So his offensive game cant be regarded as secondary to Pavlik's imo. Pavlik is succesfull because of the immense pressure he puts on people. The same goes for Andrade.
