Kirkland by KO! Also he has boxing skills but he decided a while ago that knocking-out guys would be his style. I remember reading interviews of boxers saying he had a different style as an amateur and that he could box if wanted. I wouldnt go as far as saying he has defense. His only defense is his offense and it was working for him so far.
amazing that there is a hypo matchup w/ pav on here that actually favors him....pav would stop kirkland. you can't overpower pav at 160. can't and won't happen. of course that is the opposite of the well publicized blueprint but fighters are who they are. martinez would win for that matter too.
kirkland wins by KO. Pavlik has no movement and kirkland will land with power. KP is done at 160. I'd rather see kirkland vs. dawson......chad would destroy him
Kirkland has arguably less movement than Pav and hasn't fought **** for comp. His defense is way worse also and has been put on the deck multiple times vs. lesser opponents than the ones that put Pav down, and they had lesser power than the ones who put Pav down. Not to mention he's been in prison for a year or two. Dawson? Are you kidding me, the dude is a LHW that walks around at 195-200.
Considering the layoff and the extra weight it would be difficult for me to pick Kirkland in this match up; and that's without factoring that Kirkland's style plays exactly into Pavlik's hands.
People talk like Pav is absolute ****. He is not elite but he is a proven vet and has fought the best in his class. The only fighters that definitely beat him at this weight up to LHW are: Ward, Dirrell, Martinez, BHop if he still has anything in the tank, Bute, Dawson, Pascal and that might be it. every other fight is a toss up or he should be the favorite, and I don't buy that Williams definitely beats him.
This thread has got to be a joke right?:huh Man, Kirkland would beat the vanilla **** out of Pavlic. Honestly, Pavlic would be a sitting duck for the nonstop onslaught of Kirkland. For ****s sake, a feather fisted 154 pounder (martines) had Pavlic's knees buckling and on ***** street numerous times during their fight. Imagine the damage Kirkland would inflict on Pavlic's already busted mug. Kirkland vs. Pavlic would be like a gorilla fighting an orangutan.
nobody 154 pounders haven't just buckled kirk's knees, they put him face first in the canvas. Dude is the most overhyped and overrated boxer right now, and that's the funny thing, he isn't even a boxer right now.
Yeah he surely is overhyped but when you have a boxer coming in the ring with great conditioning+punching power+relentless style+the look of someone who wants to rip ur head off u know the hype will be there. Plus he is coming out soon and could be a good addition to the 154 or 160 mix. He shouldnt go to 168 though.
I like watching the kid fight, it's just everyone thinks he is the MW Tyson, which he definitely isn't, and all this hype is selling him short, cause he isn't gonna be the great everyone is proclaiming him to be. I mean the dude has fought no one, Vera and Julio aren't MW and everyone thinks this kid walks out of prison and tears apart a banger like he is nothing. Pav is getting really underrated around here and this kid is way overblown. Pavlik will never be anywhere near a p4p'er but he isn't gonna get worked by a guy with Kirkland's style and resume.
Styles make fights. Kirkland's style is perfect for Pavlik's. Pavlik thrives against people who stand right in front of him (Taylor, Miranda). Hiss kryptonite is slickness and movement.
U right regarding the fact that he will never be great however I still believe in a Kirkland victory(after a few tune-up fights). Pavlik weight is a real pb: he does not even seem as strong as before but I respect the warrior that he is: he could fight through anything. His management made real bad decisions in his career so far (Hopkins and Martinez).
Kirkland has power, but his style is made for Kelly Pavlik and vice versa. The advantage I have for Kirkland is the speed. He can do what he wants with it, box or drop bombs, or use a gameplan similar to Martinez, but Kirkland has only showed he knows to fight one way and that's straight ahead and slug it out, but with very bad defense waiting to get exposed like Andre Berto. I might pick Kirkland by decision. Pavlik looked like ****. Didn't even try to cut off the ring on Martinez, but he should do alot better with someone who will stay in front of him like Kirkland. I hope Kirkland vs. Angulo happens soon.