Thread: Pavlik Vs Taylor 2, Bilbo's rbr

Ok guys it seems that with Wacko gone a void has opened up with nobody covering the Pavlik Taylor fight. I've volunteered for the job and suprisingly been accepted so here goes my first rbr attempt.

Ok I know Wacko usually preempts his rbr with an introduction to both fighters so I will follow suit.

First up, Kelly Pavlik

Kelly Pavlik

With back to back knockouts of both the universally recognised number 1 contender, and the universally recognised middleweight champ Pavlik went from zero to hero in 2007. He literally burst onto the boxing scene and his calm demenour, humble working class background and simple, slightly punchy sounding drawl he is about as close to a real life Rocky Balboa as you're likely to find in boxing right now.

Nicknamed the ghost, you would assume he would be an elusive target yet he gets hit as often as a 300 lb ashmatic playing dodgeball. But he can also hit back....and hard so you know his fights are guaranteed to be exciting. Certainly no opponnent will have to come looking for Kelly Pavlik.

So far what we have seen from Kelly has been electric. Three devastating KO's against Zertuche, Miranda and Taylor have proven that Pavlik has the tools to dismantle any fighter. His star is shining brightly, his confidence must be sky high and surely his new found self belief will make him a comfortable betting favourite.

Jermain Taylor

Where does one begin with Jermain Taylor? When he dethroned Bernard Hopkins, albiet controversially it seemed a new star had emerged. Tall, lean, strong and athletic Taylor had all the physical tools and persona to be the next great middleweight champion. He was a p4p star, one of boxing's biggest new stars and a guy who most thought would be part of boxing's future.

Instead it seemed that with each successive fight he went backwards. A highly entertaining fight against fellow middleweight great Winky Wright saw him lucky to escape with a draw. No real shame in that, Wright was a great fighter and both men fought their hearts out. However with lackluster wins over opponents such as Kassim Ouma and a dreadful performance against former welterweight champ Cory Spinks saw Taylor become an object of derision.

His decision to switch trainers was a farcical failure. Emmanuel Steward seemed to dispair of Jermain in between rounds, it became embarrassing for either man to associated with the other. Taylor was showing no improvement and with each performance became more tense, more reluctant to engage.

When he defended against Pavlik, certainly Kelly Pavlik had the momemtum as well as the overwhelming crowd support.

Ironically Taylor put in his best performance to date against Pavlik and with a lesser referee than Steve Smoger in control he could well have won by sensational early knockout. Alas, he couldn't get it, he gassed, he got KTFO.


The Verdict

Ok the scene has been set, the rematch is all but ready to begin. Who wins and why? Well this is only my opinion of course but the odd's must be in Pavlik's favour.

Taylor seems to have made a series of increasingly bizarre decisions in the run up to this fight. First he got rid of Steward and went back to his longtime trainer Ozell Nelson. Nelson discovered Taylor and the two have a great bond. It was Pat Burns however who actually guided Jermain to the two world title fight victories over Bernard Hopkins, not Nelson.

More bizarrely he insisted this fight not take place at 160, for the middleweight title but rather at a catchweight of 166 for no title at all. If Pavlik loses, he's still the middleweight champ, Taylor will gain nothing other than the satisfaction of redemption.

There is also little doubt that Pavlik is the naturally bigger man. By insisting on a 6 lb weight increase Taylor has seemingly only boosted Pavlik's chances still further. He hurt him and finished him with a 160 lb frame, what can he do now he's allowed to fill out some more?

Finally it seems strange that Taylor would want to take this fight straight away. After a string of poor performances, culminating in a devastating knockout you would think Jermain would like the confidence booster of an easy fight. Not so, he seems to want to jump straight back into the fire.

I think this will be his undoing. He seems to be trying too hard, making too many changes and not thinking correctly. This will surely have an effect in the ring.

I expect Taylor to start strong early and be the aggressor. I don't expect it to work. I believe that once again around the middle rounds that Pavlik's greater size and power will have taken effect and here Taylor will face a choice.

Will he go for broke like last time and risk ending up staring at the ceiling, or will he do what so many fighters have done in the past when faced with similar circumnstances resign himself to a loss and choose to try and survive, taking solace in the fact that his conquerer couldn't take him out again.

We've seen this with Roy Jones and Marco Antonio Barrera in recent fights and I think we will see this with Jermain. If he decides to fight to the death then it will be another Pacquaio Morales 3 style fight.....in my opinion at least.

My final verdict then is a comfortable points win for Pavlik with Taylor happy to survive.

Thanks for doing the RBR Bilbo, I was going to ask if anyone was doing it in the absense of Wacko.
I thought you'd be too busy putting your newfound player skills to the test, but I guess you'd rather spend your time watching to sweaty, muscle bound men try to kill eachother.

Originally Posted by CFH

Thanks for doing the RBR Bilbo, I was going to ask if anyone was doing it in the absense of Wacko.
I thought you'd be too busy putting your newfound player skills to the test, but I guess you'd rather spend your time watching to sweaty, muscle bound men try to kill eachother.

haha I don't actually ever go out so my new found tools wil rarely if ever be put to the test.

I prefer it that way, I am happy to know that if I so choose I COULD have any woman I want. I will live in that reality and not attempt to prove myself

Best way to build a strong faith is never to put it to the test

Originally Posted by bilbo

haha I don't actually ever go out so my new found tools wil rarely if ever be put to the test.

I prefer it that way, I am happy to know that if I so choose I COULD have any woman I want. I will live in that reality and not attempt to prove myself

Best way to build a strong faith is never to put it to the test

I'm gonna have to remember that one.

Originally Posted by bilbo

Ok guys it seems that with Wacko gone a void has opened up with nobody covering the Pavlik Taylor fight. I've volunteered for the job and suprisingly been accepted so here goes my first rbr attempt.

Ok I know Wacko usually preempts his rbr with an introduction to both fighters so I will follow suit.

First up, Kelly Pavlik

Kelly Pavlik

With back to back knockouts of both the universally recognised number 1 contender, and the universally recognised middleweight champ Pavlik went from zero to hero in 2007. He literally burst onto the boxing scene and his calm demenour, humble working class background and simple, slightly punchy sounding drawl he is about as close to a real life Rocky Balboa as you're likely to find in boxing right now.

Nicknamed the ghost, you would assume he would be an elusive target yet he gets hit as often as a 300 lb ashmatic playing dodgeball. But he can also hit back....and hard so you know his fights are guaranteed to be exciting. Certainly no opponnent will have to come looking for Kelly Pavlik.

So far what we have seen from Kelly has been electric. Three devastating KO's against Zertuche, Miranda and Taylor have proven that Pavlik has the tools to dismantle any fighter. His star is shining brightly, his confidence must be sky high and surely his new found self belief will make him a comfortable betting favourite.

Jermain Taylor

Where does one begin with Jermain Taylor? When he dethroned Bernard Hopkins, albiet controversially it seemed a new star had emerged. Tall, lean, strong and athletic Taylor had all the physical tools and persona to be the next great middleweight champion. He was a p4p star, one of boxing's biggest new stars and a guy who most thought would be part of boxing's future.

Instead it seemed that with each successive fight he went backwards. A highly entertaining fight against fellow middleweight great Winky Wright saw him lucky to escape with a draw. No real shame in that, Wright was a great fighter and both men fought their hearts out. However with lackluster wins over opponents such as Kassim Ouma and a dreadful performance against former welterweight champ Cory Spinks saw Taylor become an object of derision.

His decision to switch trainers was a farcical failure. Emmanuel Steward seemed to dispair of Jermain in between rounds, it became embarrassing for either man to associated with the other. Taylor was showing no improvement and with each performance became more tense, more reluctant to engage.

When he defended against Pavlik, certainly Kelly Pavlik had the momemtum as well as the overwhelming crowd support.

Ironically Taylor put in his best performance to date against Pavlik and with a lesser referee than Steve Smoger in control he could well have won by sensational early knockout. Alas, he couldn't get it, he gassed, he got KTFO.


The Verdict

Ok the scene has been set, the rematch is all but ready to begin. Who wins and why? Well this is only my opinion of course but the odd's must be in Pavlik's favour.

Taylor seems to have made a series of increasingly bizarre decisions in the run up to this fight. First he got rid of Steward and went back to his longtime trainer Ozell Nelson. Nelson discovered Taylor and the two have a great bond. It was Pat Burns however who actually guided Jermain to the two world title fight victories over Bernard Hopkins, not Nelson.

More bizarrely he insisted this fight not take place at 160, for the middleweight title but rather at a catchweight of 166 for no title at all. If Pavlik loses, he's still the middleweight champ, Taylor will gain nothing other than the satisfaction of redemption.

There is also little doubt that Pavlik is the naturally bigger man. By insisting on a 6 lb weight increase Taylor has seemingly only boosted Pavlik's chances still further. He hurt him and finished him with a 160 lb frame, what can he do now he's allowed to fill out some more?

Finally it seems strange that Taylor would want to take this fight straight away. After a string of poor performances, culminating in a devastating knockout you would think Jermain would like the confidence booster of an easy fight. Not so, he seems to want to jump straight back into the fire.

I think this will be his undoing. He seems to be trying too hard, making too many changes and not thinking correctly. This will surely have an effect in the ring.

I expect Taylor to start strong early and be the aggressor. I don't expect it to work. I believe that once again around the middle rounds that Pavlik's greater size and power will have taken effect and here Taylor will face a choice.

Will he go for broke like last time and risk ending up staring at the ceiling, or will he do what so many fighters have done in the past when faced with similar circumnstances resign himself to a loss and choose to try and survive, taking solace in the fact that his conquerer couldn't take him out again.

We've seen this with Roy Jones and Marco Antonio Barrera in recent fights and I think we will see this with Jermain. If he decides to fight to the death then it will be another Pacquaio Morales 3 style fight.....in my opinion at least.

My final verdict then is a comfortable points win for Pavlik with Taylor happy to survive.

Very nice intro Bilbo. Honestly, you can apply as a writer in Saddo. You really write well.I know you can fill the void Wacko has left. Personally, I believe (without disrespect to Wacko), the rbr will be better with your writing style. I can't give you reps again as Saddo wants it to be spread to ten more people. I can hardly give reps to five more.

By the way, I have this weird feeling that you are Terry Nutkins (no offense meant).

Originally Posted by brucelee

Very nice intro Bilbo. Honestly, you can apply as a writer in Saddo. You really write well.I know you can fill the void Wacko has left. Personally, I believe (without disrespect to Wacko), the rbr will be better with your writing style. I can't give you reps again as Saddo wants it to be spread to ten more people. I can hardly give reps to five more.

By the way, I have this weird feeling that you are Terry Nutkins (no offense meant).

No offense to Bilbo, but that is sacrilege.

Originally Posted by CFH

No offense to Bilbo, but that is sacrilege.

Hahaha. Just to boost up the morale of Bilbo. I like his writing style and he should be writing and doing some rbrs here.

Glad to see You jump Into the mix and Make an attempt to fill Wacko's satirical but also very well informed Red High Heels. I believe a nightly RBR add's alot to the forum and keeps It lively. You can tell me Bilbo....might you know his where abouts?? Have Him tucked away within you Hole do you, with the grand scheme finally being Realized now With this RBR Quest??. Good to see a RBR no doubt.

Look forward to It as well as a very nice fight card.Good Luck.
Real quick, Ive seen how some ... posters can really bring the "spirits" and levity on a big fight night.I'd watch those one's

Hard to imagine any other outcome than Taylor Laying tits up again.. I dont buy this false confidence that he is showing, I feel like its a facade to overcome any lingering mental fracture from the brutal KO.

Pavlik KO

Wackos rbrs are something I followed way before I even joined the site, but good job bilbo for steping up to the plate. I am not dishing out the 50$ for the fight though this is one is certainly worth it but I have to freaking work so instead I will try and get off early enough to watch it at a bar, if that fails I will rely on your rbr, and no disrepect but if its half as good as wackos then its definitely worth checking out. Get some rep on me

Thanks for all the support guys I will do my very best. I'll be covering whatever fights Setanta are showing so hopefully the Mijares Navarro and Montiel Castillo fights as well.

Have some rep for the coverage

Has it started yet?

Originally Posted by luvfightgame

Has it started yet?

Nice Picture, Keep thinking Tex Cobb
Have to say I think Taylor Is trying to convince himself,I think he's having flashback's. Pavlik's Defense makes me continue to look for It more than Necessary Imo. Here I see a brutal TKO with Taylor once again backed to the ropes.He fought well off ropes majority of times In the 1st go until the roof collapsed on his head, He can not get past that long power.

Montiel vs. Castillo can be a main event by It self .. Good Card.

Originally Posted by Spicoli surfs 'Nawlins

Nice Picture, Keep thinking Tex Cobb
Have to say I think Taylor Is trying to convince himself,I think he's having flashback's. Pavlik's Defense makes me continue to look for It more than Necessary Imo. Here I see a brutal TKO with Taylor once again backed to the ropes.He fought well off ropes majority of times In the 1st go until the roof collapsed on his head, He can not get past that long power.

Montiel vs. Castillo can be a main event by It self .. Good Card.

Ok, I was totally thinking it was tonight. Kids out of school today, and lots of cough medicine, I swore it was Saturday. I was getting pissed that nobody is posting results!! Guess I am mildly retarded.