It sucks that the middleweight division will yet again lose it's lineage.

well it's not all doom and gloom. there isn't anyone close to being able to beat pavlik at the moment, nor for a while in the middleweight divison.

and considering he intends to move up after beating the other abc belt holders, the lineage will be broken. however it's a cycle. a divison builds up to a unified champ, then eventually loses him. it'd be impossible to always continue the tradition. i mean, not all fighters want to hang around until they are beaten.

it might not be good for consistancy, but i can hardly blame a fighter for wanting to retire/move up while undefeated. but yes i do prefer a fighter to try and break records because that shows longevity, which of course is always a good sign of a HOF, or GOAT when a unified champ of course.

even if pavlik had a desire to get a string of defenses under his belt, i highly doubt his massive frame would allow him to stay at 160 for more than another 2 years tops.

 

Very disputable statement, given that he as was close to being KO'd in the second round, as it's possible for a boxer to get, without losing.

 

He could always KO mora, taylor again, Kessler, Abraham, Strum, Castillejo, Solliman, Winky, and I would get my jollies off he waited to KO chavez jr. (which the weight class he should be fighting at)

 

cuchulain, i admit it was close but i really do think he learnt the hard way not to disrepect someone's power. he took a volley of shots and was a little buzzed. it was when he decided to be a smartass and lower his hands, stick his chin up and went to say something to taylor, that he got really ****ed up from the second combo.

but damn! after all those flush shots taylor landed in that 1 or 2 minutes, pavlik quickly managed to re-gather his wits.

if pavlik got hit like that from a devastating puncher, instead of a heavy handed puncher, he would most likely not survived.

having said that though, i base my assumption on the opponents out there atm. from what i can see, there's really no one similar to taylor, but with stamina and more power.

a real speedy puncher with less power will just be walked down quicker than against taylor (which wasn't bad considering he was nearly KTFO a few rounds earlier!).
a limited power puncher, will get out punched, with a larger variety of shots by pavlik.
a bigger version of cory spinks MIGHT have a chance to win a boring decision but i cannot see anyone atm who fits that style.

the way i see it, there doesn't seem to be a style, nor phyiscally strong and stamina-wise fighter out there in his divison. i could be totally wrong but if pavlik only has 2 years left at this weight due to his big frame, i can't see how felix and abraham can beat pavlik.

taylor is exceptionally fast, which made pavlik look extremely slow footwise. but against felix, abraham, and a chump like mora, he will dominate them.

it will have to take a prospect or hidden contender with the right tools to show up within 2 years tops. and unless that happens the current batch dont really stand a chance. remember! pavlik took something like 50 power shots in round two, and still attempted to fight back in the same round, and then won the round after AND KTFO taylor a few rounds later... he might not look that flashy moves wise, but damn he is a geniune unfied champ.

 

PJD3 i can't see anyone in the near term who could give pavlik trouble in his weight class. but if he takes on kessler right now, kessler wins by UD or late ko. remember kessler is used to fighting guys who are naturally bigger and heavier handed. pavlik might have power that travels well to 168, but it's not certain until he tests the waters there before trying to take on someone like kessler.

kessler is similar to taylor in he can throw fast combos. but is WAY more powerful. and ALWAYS defends himself. kessler rarely gets hit flush because he keeps his hands up and moves alot. 18 of his wins have come by clean ko. not tko's! that doesn't include his other 10 or so tko's which have all been rather convincing as well.

also kessler has never even been hurt by a 168 puncher yet. not even blinked! and the last opponent moves at a similar speed to pavlik, and is also same reach and height as pavlik. (tho i believe pavlik has much more variety in his arsenal than andrade).

taylor never had ONE ko in his career! all have been tko which indicates heavy hands but not lights out power.

i give pavlik a good shot at kessler (who i believe will be champ after he fights calzaghe in november) BUT! i simply think he needs to have a bit more championship level experience and in another 1 or 2 when he naturally fills into 168, THEN he should tackle kessler. and only then do i think it's a 50-50 fight. but until then, kessler will outbox him to a UD as he will never allow himself to be put into a corner or on the ropes.

 

You can thank Taylor and his *****-ass rematch clause above the weight limit atsch

 

Abraham isn't a "heavy handed puncher" (that's your saying) like Jermain, but a "devasting puncher" (you said it again)...

AA has a defence better than Taylor's and can move when he wants to...in his last 2 fights he didn't have to do so because he knew those guys can't hurt him...vs. Pavlik he would rise to the occasion and give him a match for the ages, thanks to his coach Ulli Wegner...

 

Agreed. If Abraham ever had a shot at the lineal middleweight title, it's now. I'd have picked Taylor to beat Abraham, but against Pavlik I'd even consider making King Arthur the favourite.

 

I disagree. Taylor was a good guy, who fought the best and he had a nice reign BUT PAvlik is better to be a dominant champ. The guy is popular and ****ing exciting.

 

I hate on no one, me too was rooting for Kelly and I think him and Abraham would give us an even better fight Pavlik and Taylor had last weekend...