**Could Taylor revindicate hismself next saturday?**

I think that the whole idea in boxing is about finding the right distance, the punch velocity and the timing to hit and not to be hit. Anybody can be knocked out but the main thing would be not to expect your opponent to run out of punches and then break through with your own punches. I think the weight plays a part here as they will not be overblown at 166 ( or 176, 180 at fight night) but probably will hit harder. There's no reason to think that Taylor is gonna hit Pavlik less frequently, just that he will hit harder.

 

JT should've taken a tune up fight to clear his head. The memory of his KO is still too fresh. He would've given himself a better chance had he taken a tune up.

 

This is just a bad matchup for Taylor. I thought he might be able to pull out a decision in the first fight, but it's obvious he's unlikely to avoid Pavlik's power for a full 12 rounds.
And don't expect Pavlik to get careless like he did in round 2 in the first fight. KO round 5 for Kelly.

 

I expect a Taylor UD this time. My reasoning for this is because I'm of the opinion Pavlik is nothing more than a bigger hitter, who was almost stopped in the first fight by Taylor, who is be no means a big hitter. Jermain wants this fight bad, and that will motivate him to fight to his best ability and win a wide decision. Quote me.:good

 

The issue of extra weight favors Pavlik 100 fold. Taylor has rarely fought above the middleweight limit. His highest weight at weigh in time was 165, and his heaviest opponent to date was Alexis Rios at 164 1/2. Pavlik has fought above 160 a total of 12 times. His highest weigh-in weight was 169 1/2, and his heaviest opponent was Eric Olds at 170. Pavlik is taller than JT. He also has broader shoulders and a larger frame. He's the bigger man all the way around.

In the "Countdown to Pavlik/Taylor II" JT looked very, very muscular. The added wieght may help his stamina, but it is going to cost him his biggest advantage which is hand speed. Pavlik's sparring partner claimed that the current version of Kelly Pavlik is faster than any previous version. Based on some recent tape we saw of work out sessions I tend to believe that. If JT looses all or even a portion of his biggest advantage, that is a serious problem.

In the Miranda fight Pavlik entered the ring at 171 pounds. In the first Taylor fight I think it was 169. This catch weight of 166 means he will probably enter the ring at around 175. At 6'2" and 1/2 he can carry that easily, and make very good use of it. We can expect to see a bigger, stronger, faster Pavlik against a more muscular JT who has sacrificed all or part of his biggest advantage.

JT cannot win a war of attrition with Pav. We already know that from round 2 of the first fight. Taylor threw everything he knew how to throw, including headbutts, elbows, and punches behind the head, and Pavlik came out in round 3 like nothing ever happened.

Taylor cannot win by boxing on the outside. He allowed Kelly to control the distance and box on the outside in rounds 4, 5, and 6 in the first fight. JT won 2 of those rounds, but he still got KTFO in round 7.

Taylor's best shot at winning this fight is to slip the jab consistently. Watch Kelly over his last 6 fights. If you slip the jab, he rarely throws the right. JT needs to slip the jab, move in, flurry, and move out LATERALLY, or tie him up as soon as he is done punching. However, Taylor could not consistently slip the jab last time out, so how is he going to slip it if the exta weight diminishes his speed?

In a typical Pavlik fight it takes Kelly 3 or 4 rounds to really hit his stride, and turn into the highly effective stalker he has shown himself to be. Taylor's only real shot is to use the tactics in the above paragraph to score a very early KO. That is highly unlikely. Pavlik KO5 Taylor.

Boo

 

It was a stipulation in the contract he needed to get the title shot. Hell, Taylor tried to duck THAT even by having the first weight at at catch weight.

 

You must not pay much attention. One of the best things he has going for him is his camp's ability to formulate a game plan and for him to stick to it. Taylor won't even watch the last fight to learn from it because it is too painful. That mistake will make it doubley painful this time around. Well, I shouldn't say that. Taylor hasn't been consistent with his facts so it could be part of his stratagey .

 

? Do you have a source on this one? I don't remember seeing that and he said the shot that put him down disturbed his equalibrium because it was behind the ear, not because of how hard it was.

 

Excellent thread title. The biggest question in my mind, though, is "Will Taylor Spantopolate himself with Pavlik?

 

We will indeed.

I'm sure a lot of thought went into that statement. Wel done.

Catchweights are bad for boxing & I think it's wrong Pavlik is being forced to fight at a higher weight.

 

Good insights. Thanks :good

 

I'm taking Taylor by KO this fight. Double jab looping right, double jab straight right. He hurt Pavlik without the set up from a jab and and caught him with wild looping shots. He works behind his jab and gets the job done this time out. Also he should keep the tactic of moving in after his shots and taking away the reach advantage of Kelly. he did this well and if his trainer is worth a damn and can analyze a fight he will win. Pavlik i dont see what he will change in a fight plan. ive only seen three of his fight but in all of those he came straight forward and is bothered by quick shots and movement.

Taylor by KO 4th round. he sets it up and executes it.

 

Taylor gets a KO

 

:rofl