TAYLOR VS. PAVLIK PREVIEW: WHO WILL STAY UNDEFEATED
Posted on | September 20, 2007 | No Comments
By: Patrick McElligott
Boxing fans will be treated to one of the most important cards of 2007 on September 29, when Jermain Taylor (27-0-1, 17 KOs) defends his middleweight title against Kelly Pavlik (31-0, 28 KOs). HBO will be broadcasting the
fight live from Atlantic City.
The undercard features the explosive young welterweight contender Andre Berto (19-0, 16 KOs) against tough David Estrada (21-3, 12 KOs). Berto is an exciting fighter, with power in both hands. However, as I reported after his last fight, in which he decisioned journeyman Cosme Rivera, Berto begins to square his stance and widen his punches after five rounds. This allowed Rivera to floor Rivera with a hard shot late in the sixth round. Berto was lucky the round was over, and luckier still that his corner was allowed to pull an old Dundee trick and give him an extended rest period.
Estrada went 10 rounds with Shane Mosley in 2005, and almost completed 10 with Kermit Cintron. Since then, he has won three straight knockouts. He will be looking to frustrate Berto in the first half of their fight, and to
hurt him with counter punches in the second half.
If Berto concentrates on the body early, he should win the fight. But it is going to be his biggest test so far, and David Estrada is capable of pulling off an upset.
The main event is one of the most highly anticipated fights of the year. Jermain “Bad Intentions” Taylor was an outstanding amateur boxer, who was a national champion in the late 1990s, and won the bronze medal at the 2000 Olympics.
Pavlik was also an amateur star, who won national titles in ’98 and ’99. His amateur record was 89-9. One of those losses was to Jermain Taylor.
Taylor had a higher profile in his early professional career. He was impressive in beating the competition placed in front of him. After he stopped undefeated Daniel Edouard in three rounds in early 2005, he challenged Middleweight Champion Bernard Hopkins.
Many questioned if the young, athletic challenger was ready to meet the aging, but still great champion. But in July, 2005, Taylor won a close decision and captured the title. Five months later, he won a more convincing
decision over B-Hop.
His next three defenses were against tough challengers Winky Wright, Kassim Ouma, and Cory Spinks. The fight against Wright was ruled a draw, and Taylor won decisions over Ouma and Spinks. Some fans questioned his fighting guys who were considered to be junior middleweights; however, Wright recently fought at light heavyweight, and Spinks had trouble making the middleweight limit.
Kelly “the Ghost” Pavlik’s early professional career did not get the national attention that Taylor’s did. Sometimes, “numbers” are worthy of our attention, and it is interesting to note that the combined record of Kelly’s first five opponents was 12-50-3.
However, his last five opponents have had a combined record of 130-13-3. On the undercard of the Taylor vs Spinks fight, Pavlik destroyed top contender Edison Miranda in seven rounds. Miranda had made the mistake of looking past Pavlik, and thinking he was going to be fighting Taylor. Pavlik showed that he not only is a hard puncher, but he is a highly intelligent fighter: he made the Miranda fight “easy” by moving the usually aggressive Miranda backwards.
Pavlik also showed impressive endurance. Again, the numbers bear this out: he has scored six first round knockouts, and twelve in the 2nd; however, he has also scored nine KOs in 6 or more rounds.
Taylor in 29 years old, and Pavlik is 25. Though the amateur victory gives Taylor a slight advantage, the age difference would have been more of a factor in their teens than it will now. Jermain is 6’ 1″, and Pavlik is
listed as an inch and a half taller; however, Pavlik has a 75″ reach, which may become a significant factor in the fight. Taylor has Emanuel Steward in his corner, which is a big advantage between rounds.
In the October Boxing Digest, Phil Woolever noted that the outcome of the fight will likely be determined in the opening rounds, and that it could end early. That is true. It is also likely that the first couple rounds will be
a chess match, with each fighter showing the other the respect each deserves, and attempting to measure the distances for their best advantage.
Pavlik will move forward, with straight, hard punches. Taylor will give him angles, and attempt to counter with fast combinations. It will be interesting to see which warrior is able to land punches inside the other man’s blows. If Taylor can land, then he will have to decide if he should step up the pace, and look for a TKO in the middle rounds, or be patient and look for a decision. That will be important, because Taylor has had some
difficulty with endurance in the late rounds – and that may be when Kelly Pavlik poses the biggest threat to Jermain Taylor!
Enjoy the fights.