A lot of people label Pavlik as a basic textbook fighter. They are wrong. He is a puncher/boxer with a style centered around forcing opponents onto the ropes. Pavlik does not have textbook foot movement. He rarely take step backs, and unlike euros, doesn't use footwork as a defensive tool. He is flat footed, which hurts his defense but also helps him gain leverage on punches. He puts all his weight on the set front foot before punching, and follows through by nearling lifting his back foot. In summary, his unorthodox footwork looks ugly and plodding, but helps him hurt opponents and force them to the ropes. At one point against Taylor, he took three quick steps forward and threw three quick jabs. This made Taylor move to the ropes on the other side of the ring in two seconds flat. Pavlik throws a lot more hooks, uppercuts, and right hands than a textbook fighter. For example, jabs were a rarity in the Miranda fight and about a third of his power punches were hooks or uppercuts. If you still aren't convinced, rewatch Pavlik vs. Miranda or Pavlik vs. Zuniga. In these fights, he is about as far from a standup euro as you can get.
Agreed! Kelly's style is centered around work rate, and forcing opponents to back up. He is actually rather hard to define. He doesn't fit into any particular mold. Boo
:good He can be defined as a pressure fighter, but there are few or no pressure fighters with a similar style. The mayorgas, peters, and mirandas of the world rely only on looping, clubbing punches. The cottos of the world like fighting in the center of the ring. One middleweight who applied as much pressure and could throw straight punches is Hagler, but obviously his style was very different.
Great analysis and insight. You bring up good points that I hadn't thought about. Kessler is textbook. Marquez is textbook. Pavlik is not.
I love the fact that "textbook" is widely considered bad... It's not - there is a reason why the book has been writen - it's because it's the most effective way to box
Well is a Euro orthodox fighter the same as an American orthodox fighter? I think they fight quite differently.
kelly pavlik has the weaponry to fight as a pressure fighter taking it to the trenches and letting his hands go as he showed against miranda. but watch his amatuer and most of his proffesional career and his bread and butter is the left jab left jab right cross stand up european style. he does not mix in uppercuts and hooks , combos as a norm from the outside as middleweight suggests. he is tall with long arms for the weight and it suits him. he has stationary head movement/high guard/comes forward on rails just like what is stereotypical of the european style (wladimir) and if pressured he goes back on rails . he has a punchers feet, which again is stereotypical in that he likes to get set to throw power, again watch wlad when he setlles down and lets his punches rip. pavlik is a natural finisher and then is when he uses his variety of uppercuts/hooks/body shots or when in plan b mold, but when boxing conservativley he sticks with the tried and tested. nothing wrong with that , with his body shape and size its an advantage. hooks /uppercut leads from range are dangerous with the stand up style , because you leave your chin up in the air and do not move your head to get out of the way of the counter for that you need to be fairly slick or in against opponents who cannot take advantage.
if you have ever played knockout kings or fight night, he is like that guy that picks whoever he wants and throws shots from everywhere nonstop except for unlike the video games pavlik seems to not get tired.
No he does not use many combos, but how can you possibly watch the Miranda fight and say he doesn' mix in hooks?
he may not be textbook in the euro sense cause he doesnt have that tight guard....hands infront of his face and elbows tucked in. but he is a conventional fighter. just with a great chin and huge power. i always thought he squared up to much, but he makes up for that with that good chin and offense.
