IF Taylor beats Pavlik what will your opinion be of him then?

You kind of missed the point. Of course every fighter has flaws, that wasn't meant to be the focus of my post. It's pretty simple really. Neither one is as good as their hype = neither one deserves as much credit as they're inevitably going to get for winning = this fight isn't the one that 'answers all the questions about the division' = unless they both put on career-defining performances in a shocking FOTY there is no reason for my opinion of the victor to change radically.

 

Don't mean to chop up your post, but that's exactly right. ThHey hate Taylor because HBO is behind him hyping him up. They should boycott HBO if it's such a horrible network. STOP putting money into a network that FORCES :roll: judges to give decisions to their house fighter...

 

So you dont feel Pavlik is a legit contender?

 

If Taylor beats Pavlik CONVICINGLY, I don't mean recieving a dubious decision, I mean getting him clear, then I am wrong in my assessment of him and will admit it. I still will feel that he's ripe for the picking and over hyped, but some legitimacy of him will come into my viewpoint and because he would have proved to me that he has an okay chin and can adapt to pressure.

If he wins, I will draft a public apology thread for my extensive bashing of him, and I will do so because my assessment was off a bit and that would bring no legitimacy to the bashing train.

So he'll be cleared as legit from Amsterdam, the no. 1 Taylor hater.

See? I give him a chance.

... But if he loses by a one sided KO due to collapsing to pressure in a non-competitive fight like I am predicting, are the Taylor apologists going to admit that my assessment skills are top notch and not give me personal insults as backlash when I call out a hype job in the future?

 

All I'm saying is that regardless of titles, ring rankings, even resume - I don't regard these two as the best 160 lbers in the world at the moment. I think whoever comes out still undefeated is going to be catapulted alot further into stardom than the winner of this contest reasonably should.

 

I hope I'm not included in the "Taylor apologists" group. I've told you that its a winnable fight for both guys and a stoppage win for Pavlik is possible.

 

Meh, he's still what he was during the Zertuche fight. An exciting prospect with just as much downside as up.

And I don't feel Taylor is necessarily a legit champ - still just a naturally very athletically gifted guy without a whole lot else going for him - which has been enough to allow him to win (or at least be competitive enough to get decisions) up until now. A lot of people are saying "oh, finally he steps up the competition" - eh, not that big a step up if you ask me. Sure Pavlik's much more dangerous than his last four opponents, but come on he isn't fighting the very best available. He could be taking on another titlist. :deal

 

Ams, don't tell me you're one of those so dazzled by the Miranda fight as to think Pavlik walks on water? I like the kid alot and am rooting for him, but beating Taylor won't make him the best middleweight, and beating him doesn't all by itself suddenly legitimize Taylor as the 160lb king.

 

:good

 

No matter how you win....a win is a win. If he beats Pavlik then Taylor has beaten another top guy out there and people have to give him the respect he deserves.

 

Well, I consider myself more of a boxing fan in general than a Taylor apologyst. I mean, I do think he lost to Hopkins in the first fight (close but clear), I think he drew with him in the rematch (I could make more of an arguement for a Hop win than a Taylor one) and I feel he drew with Winky also (tho I wouldnt argue the decision going either way). I try to look at it unbiasedly....but I find myself constantly defending Taylor at every turn.

This is the way I see it....

1- Since winning the titles (regardless of how your scorecard looked) he has acted like a true champion, in and out of the ring. I mean, look at how some of these other "beltholders" act when not in the ring....Taylor holds himself with a class that many other fighters could learn from (Floyd Mayweather...I am looking in your direction).

2- After winning the Hopkins fights (the number 1 p4p fighter in the world), he went on to fight Winky Wright (top 5 p4p fighter in the world)...he got a draw and IMMEDIATELY wanted a rematch. He wasnt shying away from yet ANOTHER tough fight. Then he fights a former champion and a tough SOB in Ouma next as a FRIGGIN TUNE UP!!! Followed by a fight with a former undisputed champion and one of the best defensive fighters in boxing next (I think we can all agree Spinks is at least top 10...). And now he is taking on the biggest and toughest fighter at 160....

3- For that run of fights he gets flack for the fact that the first 3 fights were close. YET WE IGNORE THAT THEY WERE TWO OF THE BEST FIGHTERS ALIVE FOR GOD SAKES....OF COURSE THEY WOULD BE CLOSE!!!!. (and could we PLEASE stop calling these robberies and gifts....Chavez - Whitaker was a gift....Jones - Park Si-Hun was a gift....Taylor vs Hop and Winky were close fights....not gifts...it diminishes the severity of the others when we lump these in with those others....) Then he gets **** because he fought a smaller man in his TUNE UP, when most others fight SCRUBS as tune ups (Joe Calzaghe....I am looking in your direction)...even tho he shut the guy out. Then he gets **** for not dominating a top defensive fighter...who just HAPPENS to be a lefty....when other than one fight (Judah 2), NOONE has dominated Spinks.

None of the hate makes any sense. And if you are mad about the decisions..............HOW IS THAT TAYLORS FAULT???? Is his real name Duane Ford? Or Jim Lampley?

The guy should be praised. And after he wins a clear UD vs Pavlik (I think Kelly has a beard, so I cant see a KO), hopefully at least a few of you will take the mans route of giving him his due credit (and man up to your avatar bets....Am, Zak and compu with Taylor avatars....oh god I cant wait!!!!), instead of the ***** way by calling Pavlik a hype job.

[full-stop]

 

Taylor can't afford another gift decision...but if it's an action fight(which it will be) he won't lose much stock...but i see Taylor winning decisively this time...

 

No it would not.

It will change if the loses - that would mean he ain't getting aby gifts anymore.


As much as I hate it I think he will dance away with an SD.

 

Also all his opponents' faults for not winning over him.

I neither root for nor hate Taylor, but I think Pavlik will wrest the title from him. :nono

 

If taylor beats Pavlik . . . Bah, humbug.