Does anyone else think Jermain Taylor might just upset Abraham?

[Taeth]

Who does anyone have Abraham winning this?

[amat]

Who does anyone have Abraham winning this?

Most have Abraham and Kessler as the class of this tournament. I don't but that's what most polls and things indicate.

[Kev]

Looking at all possibilities for Taylor I can not see him beating King Arthur. No way. Wrong matchup. The guy is granite chinned, ridiculous conditioning, and presses like a bull. As much as I hate to say it I very much doubt Taylor will have the conditioning to hold up to a King Arthur pressure fight. I will be going for Taylor but King Arthur is the real deal and I can't see Taylor changing into a pure boxer by this fight.

I definitely wouldn't consider Abraham a pressure fighter. In fact I think he is at real risk of losing this fight because he won't pressure enough.

I can't see Abraham winning any of the first 5 or 6 rounds, he just won't do anything but cover up.

It all depends on how much pressure Abraham can put on Taylor late on, but my opinion is that unless Abraham can knock Taylor out he could well lose the fight.

I don't really rate Artur's chances much in this competition, to me he's the rank outsider. Never fought at the weight, never beaten a significant opponent, unless you call going life and death with Miranda a significant win.

I think and have said previously that I feel he will be the disappointment of the whole show. I wouldn't be suprised if he lost every fight, I mean seriously when has a decent non heavyweight ever come out of Europe? Us Brits have had a few but Germany and Armenia or wherever he's from, well I dont recall them ever having a world class fighter capable of beating the best in the world.

They normally prefer to go 40-0 against the type of guys that even Felix Sturm would be embarrassed to fight. Credit to him for stepping up, but he's going to struggle imo.

Taylor to win.

Thats a big statement! The favourite for the whole tournament is a Euro fighter in Kessler! The best Cruiser in the world at the moment is Polish (Adamek)You cannot accuse Tomasz of not picking tough opponents! Vic Darchinyan is not the greatest fighter ever but he has had some good wins is not scared to fight the top guys and is Armenian. Then there was Kostya who altho i try to claim as an Aussie is a Russian who could go with the best of them.

Abraham probably wont win the tournament but i dont think bein Armenian has much to do with it!!!

Yep Kessler ain't winning it either, we've already seen how he fares against the elite in Calzaghe.

Whoever wins this tournament would probably be top 3 or 4 p4p and I repeat, when has a European (not British) ever been top 3 or 4 p4p?

It just doesn't happen, maybe once every 30 years or something.

[Nameless]

Who does anyone have Abraham winning this?

Because in my opinion (I can't talk as why do the others think so), Taylor just doesn't have the stamina and the jaw to sustain Abraham in his face for 12 full rounds, plus Uli Wegner is one of the very best trainer in the business, same thing can't definitely be said of Ozell Nelson

[The Fightfan]

This is why I love this tournament idea. Yes I absolutely think Taylor can beat Abraham same as every other fighter. My belief is Taylor wastes too much too early I think if he disciplines himself he could beat perhaps stop Abraham. You do have to remember this is a lighter Abraham moving up against a solid super middleweight in Taylor. If Taylor fight's the same type of fight as the Lacy fight he will give Abraham everything he can handle. Meaning not going balls to the wall early and dyeing out late. If you watch that Lacy fight he fought a perfect fight. He didn't try to bomb Lacy out he took his time and hit him with hard counters over and over.

[Kev]

This is why I love this tournament idea. Yes I absolutely think Taylor can beat Abraham same as every other fighter. My belief is Taylor wastes too much too early I think if he disciplines himself he could beat perhaps stop Abraham. You do have to remember this is a lighter Abraham moving up against a solid super middleweight in Taylor. If Taylor fight's the same type of fight as the Lacy fight he will give Abraham everything he can handle. Meaning not going balls to the wall early and dyeing out late. If you watch that Lacy fight he fought a perfect fight. He didn't try to bomb Lacy out he took his time and hit him with hard counters over and over.

I think Taylor has a great chance of winning but I'm not sure he has much of a size advantage if any.

Taylor has only ever twice fought at supermiddleweight in his career, once against career middleweight and shot fight Jeff Lacy, and once against Carl Froch, in which he got knocked out.

Against Froch he only came in at 166, he's not really big at this weight.

A quick look at boxrec shows Abraham started his career fighting around 164-166 lbs so I'm sure he's not the smaller man here.

[killersheep]

This is why I love this tournament idea. Yes I absolutely think Taylor can beat Abraham same as every other fighter. My belief is Taylor wastes too much too early I think if he disciplines himself he could beat perhaps stop Abraham. You do have to remember this is a lighter Abraham moving up against a solid super middleweight in Taylor. If Taylor fight's the same type of fight as the Lacy fight he will give Abraham everything he can handle. Meaning not going balls to the wall early and dyeing out late. If you watch that Lacy fight he fought a perfect fight. He didn't try to bomb Lacy out he took his time and hit him with hard counters over and over.

I think Taylor has a great chance of winning but I'm not sure he has much of a size advantage if any.

Taylor has only ever twice fought at supermiddleweight in his career, once against career middleweight and shot fight Jeff Lacy, and once against Carl Froch, in which he got knocked out.

Against Froch he only came in at 166, he's not really big at this weight.

A quick look at boxrec shows Abraham started his career fighting around 164-166 lbs so I'm sure he's not the smaller man here.

To my knowledge Lacy has never fought at Middleweight, remember the whole sheika, Reid, Calzaghe thing those were all Super Middleweight fights.

The point about Taylor is a good one though, he is not a big guy for 168, he was doing pretty well Against Froch until he followed the JT Standard Operating Procedure Manual section 1.1.5 - "How to lose a fight at the latest moment possible"

[skel1983]

Abraham looked solid enough when smashing Miranda to bits at 168, I dont see the wieght a problem at all.

[Cortez The Killer]

I say this all the time with Taylor. He can beat almost anyone around his weight. His jab is one of the best in the sport. IF he can last the distance.

This is right on. Taylor matches up well with everyone in the tournament and I wouldnt be suprised if he makes it all the way through. I'd like to put some bets on him cause it seems like most people have completely written him off.

[OumaFan]

Seriously, Taylor wasn't a huge middle (good sized one), just cause he has already fought there doesn't mean he's automatically a much bigger guy. He's obviously taller and maybe he fills the weight out before, to be determined.

[The Fightfan]

This is why I love this tournament idea. Yes I absolutely think Taylor can beat Abraham same as every other fighter. My belief is Taylor wastes too much too early I think if he disciplines himself he could beat perhaps stop Abraham. You do have to remember this is a lighter Abraham moving up against a solid super middleweight in Taylor. If Taylor fight's the same type of fight as the Lacy fight he will give Abraham everything he can handle. Meaning not going balls to the wall early and dyeing out late. If you watch that Lacy fight he fought a perfect fight. He didn't try to bomb Lacy out he took his time and hit him with hard counters over and over.

I think Taylor has a great chance of winning but I'm not sure he has much of a size advantage if any.

Taylor has only ever twice fought at supermiddleweight in his career, once against career middleweight and shot fight Jeff Lacy, and once against Carl Froch, in which he got knocked out.

Against Froch he only came in at 166, he's not really big at this weight.

A quick look at boxrec shows Abraham started his career fighting around 164-166 lbs so I'm sure he's not the smaller man here.

To my knowledge Lacy has never fought at Middleweight, remember the whole sheika, Reid, Calzaghe thing those were all Super Middleweight fights.

The point about Taylor is a good one though, he is not a big guy for 168, he was doing pretty well Against Froch until he followed the JT Standard Operating Procedure Manual section 1.1.5 - "How to lose a fight at the latest moment possible"

To me in his last couple of fight's at middleweight he seemed a little too thin. He didn't seem strong but once he moved up against Pavlik he finished the fight on his toes rather than on his knees and really kept it a competitive fight for most of the fight,he beat yes Lacy who was a bit past his prime but now look at Roy Jones Jr. He beats Lacy now there is talk of him being in the P4P category again. He was beating Froch and convincingly until the later rounds. I guess the point I am trying to make is he really doesn't have to struggle to get down in weight he is much better at a weight that is a little more comfortable to fight at and make with ease.

[JazMerkin]

I think Taylor has a great chance of winning but I'm not sure he has much of a size advantage if any.

Taylor has only ever twice fought at supermiddleweight in his career, once against career middleweight and shot fight Jeff Lacy, and once against Carl Froch, in which he got knocked out.

Against Froch he only came in at 166, he's not really big at this weight.

A quick look at boxrec shows Abraham started his career fighting around 164-166 lbs so I'm sure he's not the smaller man here.

To my knowledge Lacy has never fought at Middleweight, remember the whole sheika, Reid, Calzaghe thing those were all Super Middleweight fights.

The point about Taylor is a good one though, he is not a big guy for 168, he was doing pretty well Against Froch until he followed the JT Standard Operating Procedure Manual section 1.1.5 - "How to lose a fight at the latest moment possible"

To me in his last couple of fight's at middleweight he seemed a little too thin. He didn't seem strong but once he moved up against Pavlik he finished the fight on his toes rather than on his knees and really kept it a competitive fight for most of the fight,he beat yes Lacy who was a bit past his prime but now look at Roy Jones Jr. He beats Lacy now there is talk of him being in the P4P category again. He was beating Froch and convincingly until the later rounds. I guess the point I am trying to make is he really doesn't have to struggle to get down in weight he is much better at a weight that is a little more comfortable to fight at and make with ease.

From who?? Roy Jones' Dad??

[Kev]

This is why I love this tournament idea. Yes I absolutely think Taylor can beat Abraham same as every other fighter. My belief is Taylor wastes too much too early I think if he disciplines himself he could beat perhaps stop Abraham. You do have to remember this is a lighter Abraham moving up against a solid super middleweight in Taylor. If Taylor fight's the same type of fight as the Lacy fight he will give Abraham everything he can handle. Meaning not going balls to the wall early and dyeing out late. If you watch that Lacy fight he fought a perfect fight. He didn't try to bomb Lacy out he took his time and hit him with hard counters over and over.

I think Taylor has a great chance of winning but I'm not sure he has much of a size advantage if any.

Taylor has only ever twice fought at supermiddleweight in his career, once against career middleweight and shot fight Jeff Lacy, and once against Carl Froch, in which he got knocked out.

Against Froch he only came in at 166, he's not really big at this weight.

A quick look at boxrec shows Abraham started his career fighting around 164-166 lbs so I'm sure he's not the smaller man here.

To my knowledge Lacy has never fought at Middleweight, remember the whole sheika, Reid, Calzaghe thing those were all Super Middleweight fights.

The point about Taylor is a good one though, he is not a big guy for 168, he was doing pretty well Against Froch until he followed the JT Standard Operating Procedure Manual section 1.1.5 - "How to lose a fight at the latest moment possible"

Yeah my bad, of course Lacy fought at 168, not sure what I was thinking there, I think I got confused as he moved up to 175 and I was thinking he moved up with Taylor to fight at 168.

But as he was completely shot and Taylor got ktfo by Froch the point still stands. Taylor has yet to win at supermiddle either (Lacy barely counts) so I don't think Abraham is at a size disadvantage.

I think Taylor has a great chance of winning but I don't think size will be a factor, and I also don't think Taylor is any more proven as a supermiddleweight than Abraham is. I mean above 160 he's what 1-2?

[The Fightfan]

To my knowledge Lacy has never fought at Middleweight, remember the whole sheika, Reid, Calzaghe thing those were all Super Middleweight fights.

The point about Taylor is a good one though, he is not a big guy for 168, he was doing pretty well Against Froch until he followed the JT Standard Operating Procedure Manual section 1.1.5 - "How to lose a fight at the latest moment possible"

To me in his last couple of fight's at middleweight he seemed a little too thin. He didn't seem strong but once he moved up against Pavlik he finished the fight on his toes rather than on his knees and really kept it a competitive fight for most of the fight,he beat yes Lacy who was a bit past his prime but now look at Roy Jones Jr. He beats Lacy now there is talk of him being in the P4P category again. He was beating Froch and convincingly until the later rounds. I guess the point I am trying to make is he really doesn't have to struggle to get down in weight he is much better at a weight that is a little more comfortable to fight at and make with ease.

From who?? Roy Jones' Dad??

Yes I actually heard this it was Jim Rome or Mike and Mike who had touched down on this. Don't ask me I thought it was rigoddamndiculous myself.

[JazMerkin]

To me in his last couple of fight's at middleweight he seemed a little too thin. He didn't seem strong but once he moved up against Pavlik he finished the fight on his toes rather than on his knees and really kept it a competitive fight for most of the fight,he beat yes Lacy who was a bit past his prime but now look at Roy Jones Jr. He beats Lacy now there is talk of him being in the P4P category again. He was beating Froch and convincingly until the later rounds. I guess the point I am trying to make is he really doesn't have to struggle to get down in weight he is much better at a weight that is a little more comfortable to fight at and make with ease.

From who?? Roy Jones' Dad??

Yes I actually heard this it was Jim Rome or Mike and Mike who had touched down on this. Don't ask me I thought it was rigoddamndiculous myself.

Whoever it was needs to see a Dr quick because its early stages of Alzheimers when you think its 10 years earlier than it is