A new top dog emerged in the middleweight division last night at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City as ruling WBC and WBO Champion Jermain Taylor was gunned down by a gutsy Kelly Pavlik in the seventh round of a thrilling slugfest.

Pavlik's steady drive through the divisional rankings, highlighted by a brutal knockout of highly regarded power puncher Edison Miranda, had generated a great deal of interest in his showdown with Taylor, who had held various world titles since winning a split decision over ageless Bernard Hopkins two years ago.

After struggling with bulked up light middleweights Winky Wright, Cory Spinks and Kassim Ouma since winning a rematch with Hopkins, many in the media felt that Taylor's time in the spotlight would be brought to a close by the towering 25 year old from Youngstown, Ohio.

When the bell finally rang to start this much anticipated showdown, Pavlik pressed Taylor just like he had pressed Miranda but it was clear that the middleweight champion was far more skilled than the vanquished Colombian slugger.

Surging forward behind a hard, accurate jab, Pavlik landed sizzling right hands from the start but Taylor showed a good chin and stinging countering abilities, making the challenger pay for any ground gained.

Taylor seemed to be running on adrenaline as he bounced around, fighting off the backfoot and landing good counter hooks and right hands over the sometimes lingering jab of Pavlik but the Ohio man was clearly making the champion uncomfortable with the heavy pressure.

Pavlik drove Taylor into the ropes and hammered away with machine-like precision from both hands but after instructions from legendary trainer Emanuel Steward, it would be six more rounds before Taylor would be pinned on the ropes.

The second round saw Pavlik again stalk Taylor with the jab, right hand combination but had definite problems when the action moved inside and Taylor unleashed a torrent of punches that caught a surprised challenger unprepared in it's speed and ferocity.

A three punch combination from Taylor dropped Pavlik hard to the canvas but the lanky Midwesterner beat the count and somehow managed to wobble and hold his way through the next minute or so as Taylor threw everything he had into trying to finish the job.

But Taylor could never really catch Pavlik with anything of substance and was soon visibly exhausted, clinging onto his still shaky foe in a clear attempt at rest.

Taylor again tried everything in the third to get Pavlik out of there but by the end of the frame was catching more punishment than he was doling out.

The fourth saw the slugfest turn into a boxing match and that clearly favored Taylor as the champion turned Pavlik somewhat tentative with hurtful counter combinations.

The fifth session was closer as Pavlik again began to get through with the jab and long right hand but Taylor was still mixing up his responses and finding a home for his own right hands.

The sixth saw Taylor begin to tire again and Pavlik ramped up the pressure, bruising the champion with a two handed attack that Taylor struggled to find answers for.

Pavlik continued his relentless surge in the seventh and drove Taylor to the ropes, catching the champion flush with a jab followed closely by a full blooded right hand that Taylor never saw.

Taylor was visibly shaken and stumbled into the corner where he tried to dodge the torrent of leather Pavlik fired off but it was too late as the champion's will to resist was reduced with every punch.

Pavlik continued with all guns blazing and began landing with both hands, crumpling Taylor in the corner and causing referee Steve Smoger to step between the fighters and call a wise halt to the action.

A jubilant Pavlik, 32-0 (29), had just defeated arguably the top middleweight in the game over the last two years in one of the best fights to be held at 160 lb over the last decade to win the WBC and WBO titles.

Interviewed after the fight, Taylor, 27-1-1 (17), showed good sportsmanship in accepting responsibility for the defeat, praising Pavlik as a fighter

The two will likely fight again as there was a rematch clause, with a maximum weight of 164 lb, built into the original fight contract.

There was good action on the undercard with several important fighters making appearances.

24 year old welterweight Andre Berto, 20-0 (17), graduated from prospect to contender with an impressive hardnosed win over seasoned campaigner David Estrada, 21-4 (12), but the Florida man needs to improve his defense if he is to face and defeat the higher echelon welters.

Detroit based light middleweight Ronald Hearns, 16-0 (13), took the next step in his career, annihilating Robert Kamya, 16-8 (4), in the first round.

Former super middle world title challenger Omar Sheika, 27-8 (18), stopped Tiwon Taylor, 26-14-1 (19), in the fourth at light middle and heavyweight prospect Chazz Witherspoon, 20-0 (14), stayed on track with a fifth round stoppage of journeyman Ron Guerrero, 19-15-3 (13).

Click to read more boxing articles by Richard Eberline

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