Thank you, thank you, thank you Jermain Taylor and Lou DiBella for this late Christmas present. If Taylor works hard on his cardio and stays on his bike, he gets KO'd late. If he thinks he can recreate the 2nd round of the first fight, he gets KO'd early. Either way, Pavlik by KO, again. The "Fighting Fraud," just like last time, will be exposed for the world to see. I can't even begin to express how happy I am that Team Taylor has apparently bought the excuse that Manny was to blame. I like Taylor, but this fight should end the Taylor Nuthugger Club once and for all. Don't be surprised if DiBella finds more useful ways to spend his promotional time after this fight. I'm not saying he's going to leave Taylor, I just think that the writing will be on the wall for Taylor's future 'stardom,' and Louie will be looking for more bang for his buck in his promotional ventures. Actually, as much of a jerk as DiBella is, I hope he DOES leave Taylor after this fight, and then Taylor gets his head right, hires a real trainer (again), and then goes on a winning streak which leaves DiBella begging to get back in the mix. That would be great.
How on earth can you legitamitely respond to this question when you have absolutely no freakin idea how pavliks hands are?? Idiots roaming these boards sometimes.
I think those who continue to insist that JT was "winning the fight" when he got knocked out suffer from a fundamental misunderstanding of how boxing actually works. Being ahead on the cards does not always mean you are "winning the fight." Pavlik had found his rythym, and was moving forward consistently landing the most basic combination in boxing: jab-jab, right hand, close with a hook. He was also consistently landing the lead right. Anybody at 160 who allows Pavlik to do that gets knocked out. Kelly has proven that 29 times! The only time it looked like JT might win was the middle of the 2nd round, but by the end of the round it was Taylor who was initiating the clinches. In round 3 Pavlik handed Taylor an ass whippin that I was surprised to see him survive. From then on Pavlik controled the action, and Taylor was dumb enough to think he could hang with him toe to toe, or win a jabbing contest. Go back and watch the tape again: it was a series of jabs, and a perfect 1-2 in the middle of the ring that set up the knock out. From the beginning of the 3rd round on Taylor was in constant danger of getting KTFO. Even I had JT up by one point going into the 7th, but he was not "winning the fight" and that is why Manny kept telling him he was losing! Boo
The only way he'll win is the way he usually "wins" - make it to the final bell and wait for HBO to get him a gift decision. Against Pavlik, he's not likely to make it to the final bell. :-(
If Taylor Fights Pav he gets KTFO quick.....if he chooses to jab and and run and elude all exchanges on his bike all night its his only chance of winning a **** points decison, if he mans up like last fight and I doubt he will. Then he gets brutally KTFO again. How sweet it is...