Pavlik vs Pascal @ 168

Again, way too generous. Martinez would knock Pavlik out in one round.

 

Seriously, this would be a good, competitive fight a lot of the way, but I think Pascal struggles with Pavlik's punch out-put and constant jab. Pascal is fast and athletic, but he's vulnerable to someone who does the fundamentals well and doesn't leave himself open to wild pot-shotting. As well as that, Pascal likes to fight at quite a slow pace. Against Froch, he gassed badly after the first half of the fight which allowed Froch to just box from range and pile up the points. He looked pretty lethargic against Branco as well. I think Pavlik pulls away in the later rounds to take a clear UD.

It's also worth bearing in mind that Pascal can't make 168 any more, so the only real version of Pascal we can talk about is the older, cruder version that fought Froch.

 

Pascal UD.

Pavlik is tough enough to last the distance.

But except for punching power Pascal beats Kelly in every other department.

 

Is Pavlik worse than Froch "in every other department"?

Look, Pascal is a very good fighter, but he's no Bernard Hopkins. People are getting carried away with this guy.

 

I think people just don't rate Pavlik anymore

 

How exactly has he improved?Except the fact that he doesn't fight as stupid a fight he fought with Froch he hasn't improved much.Maybe the discipline of following a gameplan.

Anyway considering Pascal at 68 I'd go with Pavlik UD.His jab would control Pascal more so than Froch at times.

 

What departments is Pavlik better than Froch?

He's weaker, doesn't take as good a punch, is much easier to figure out, has less hand speed, his foot work is slower, he doesn't hit as hard...

Froch is a much better fighter than Pavlik is.

 

Pretty even IMO

 

On what grounds? Pavlik has a higher KO ratio, and has stopped many durable opponents at world level that have gone on to become tough fighters at 168 and 175. The only common opponent is Taylor, and Pavlik scored a disabling KO with far fewer punches at a better stage in Taylor's career.

Pavlik ate up Miranda's bombs like they were made of chocolate, and got hit with everything in Hopkins' book and walked right through it all. The only time he was genuinely hurt was against Taylor, off a series of flush shots. Ok. But Froch was put down by Taylor off a glancing blow!

In what sense? Maybe in that he's technically superior and does things by the book. Unpredictability is no excuse for sloppiness on Froch's part.

That's just wrong.

Both guys are pretty much plodders, so this comparison isn't very meaningful. But, since you mention it, Froch's stance is very wide, and he tends to move by jumping than anything else. Pavlik's footwork is slow, but at least it's methodical.

Pavlik isn't any where near the best fighter from 160-168, but he'd wipe his arse with Froch, frankly. He's much more fundamentally solid, comes in behind an accurate jab and right hand, applies pressure much more intensely and is an all-round better-educated fighter. And, as above, Froch doesn't even have the edge in terms of physical attributes. If these guys ever fought, Froch would be on the floor within a few rounds, not knowing if it was Rio de Janeiro or Wednesday. Guaranteed.