He floored Pavlik when Miranda didn't come close. A lot of people said before the fight that Taylor won't hurt Pavlik because Miranda couldn't. Where are those people who said that?
I wasn't one of them. But I am of the unpopular opinion that Miranda was very drained for that fight and it showed clearly from round 1 that he didn't have the snap in his punches that he usually did. HBO commented on it during the fight as well. Pavlik beats a 100% Miranda, don't get me wrong. But Miranda hits harder than Taylor at 100% is what I am saying. The comparison doesn't take that into account.
I thought that Taylor stood a better chance of knocking down Pavlik than Miranda. Why? Because he throws the quicker, more accurate shots, and from angles Pavlik may not see coming.
Well, I recall Pavliks sparring partner said in the ctd. to Pavlik/Taylor "he (Jermaine) couldnt even knock Corey Spinks out. Corey was pushing him back imagine what he (Pavlik) will do to him (Jermaine)" I would have liked to see the sparring guys face when Pavlik was on ***** street in the second round. Like I said before, they were making pavlik out to be king kong who was going to run right hru Taylor. yes he won impressively and dramtically, but it was far from easy as he was hurt and very close to loosing if Taylor was a better closer. I dont take anything away from Pavlik... he won fair and square.
i'm of the same opinion KG. miranda was drained, but it would not have mattered pavlik still would beat him at 100% unless miranda improves technically. still though those were some hard right hands pavlik took from miranda, those would have KO'd most fringe contenders. taylors got faster hands and attacked from more angles than miranda. pavlik did'nt see those punches, and caught him flush. at least miranda got up from two KD's, before being stopped.
he got his attention a couple of times and was snapping pavliks head back with hard rights, but not enough to make pavlik wobble badly ala the 2nd round yesterday.
I didn't think he could knock Pavlik out either. And guess what? He didn't! He did floor him with a left hook that Pavlik didn't even see. You don't have to be an extraordinary puncher to catch someone offguard and deck them. It happens. Pavlik and Miranda are the type of punchers who deliver a deliberate right hand time and time again, and still crush their opponents with it. Taylor has decent power for a middleweight, but it isn't great. Nothing like what Miranda and Pavlik are throwing.
Miranda landed a series of gruesome right hands that hurt Pavlik and backed him up, hands down and gasping. But he recovered quickly, and actually hurt Miranda at the end of the rd. It doesn't take away from the brutal ass whopping, but Miranda did hurt him, and Pavlik was bleeding at the time of the TKO.
With that said, he still didn't put Pavlik on his ass. Plus Pavlik nose was bloody in the fight yesterday :yep
Miranda was low on energy from the start in the fight against Pavlik. Pushed his punches from the get go because of it, diminishing the power greatly. Taylor was able to connect with a huge right hand to the side of Pavlik's head which discombobulated Pavlik a bit, then Taylor followed up with 5 or 6 punches...then Pavlik wanted to show Taylor he wasn't hurt and as he started to make a face at Taylor, Taylor connected with 3 more huge punches that floored Pavlik. Miranda still hits harder than Taylor IMO.