I think that people are jumping the gun on predicting Pavlik over Taylor...

[BoomBoom]

I like Pavlik but he hasnt beaten anyone of note. He beat an overratted Edison Miranda. Thats it. If it wasnt Pavlik to expose Miranda weaknesses it would have been someone else. It would have happened earlier but guys like Gibbs and Green were intimidated by him. There is nothing more too it. I think people are overrating him the same way they overratted Miranda. Dont get me wrong I like both guys but like like him or not Taylor is a better, sounder, more experienced fighter. I want Pavlik to win but I dont see it happening at all.

[zupg]

To address each thing.

Hopkins is a pretty hard hitter. Pavlik is also wear down puncher. He hasn't shown me real one punch ko against top competition, and I don't think its because Miranda has a great chin.

Second, Winky obviously doesn't hit as hard as Pavlik, but he kept comming forward he is much hard to hit than Pavlik, he keeps a high punch rate, and he is southpaw which made it hard for Taylor to use his jab.

thirdly, Lacy is faster, bigger, stronger than Miranda and he has better technique.
[/quote]

What about Pavliks one punch to have Zertuche out on his feet.
I will admit, I am a big Pavlik fan and have been for years, since he is from the same area as I am. But it is about time he is finally getting some kinda recognition. I believe this will be a good close fight till round #8, when Kelly KOs Taylor. But I don't think people should be so critical of Taylor's last 4 fights. Hopkins, one of the all time greats and all time P4P, Winky has one of the best defenses of all time and also on the P4P list, Ouma and Spinks are just difficult to hit all together. Yes they were boring fights, but not alot of fighters could have made it much better.

[Violent Demise]

Taylor's last 3 opponents were all left handers. So Taylor had a hard time making his jab a factor. That won't be a problem against Pavlik. Taylor's jab will be in his face all night. Taylor by stoppage around the 7th or 8th round

[Cortez The Killer]

Typical daxx post:

Is it just me or does the sun rise every morning?

Anyone else agree or am I all alone on this one?

Dax, as you can see, it is close but the majority favor taylor. Everything I've seen people predict the majority favor taylor. No, you are not the "only one" who favors taylor.

Just like everyone thought that Matt Hamill was robbed in the recent UFC. No, you werent standing alone and making a bold statement with that one either.


Is it just me guys, or is Saddo's some kind of website on the internet? Am I going out on a limb with this one?? It's a pretty extreme statement, I know! That's why I'm asking if I am the "only one" who thinks that! Because Im sure hardly anyone will agree that this is a website on the internet. That would be crazy!

[SweetPea]

Pavlik is coming off the best performance of his career. Taylor is coming off a horrible performance against a fighter who's almost impossible to look good against. So naturally, I think people are overrating Pavlik a bit and underrating Taylor.

I like Taylor by decision. I think he has the hand speed edge and the big fight experience.

[the wiz]

I like Taylor in this one for the sole reason that he'll have a fighter fight right in front of him for the first time in years. Taylor by mid round ko in brutal fight.

[mayorook]

I think people are fooled by Pavilik win over an overrated Miranda. Taylor will go back to his old self in this one and i think not only will he win, i think he will dominate Pavilik

[Wacko3205]

I have seen some interesting articles and topics on some forums the last few months about Pavlik beating Taylor....You would think that Kelly is a world dominator and Taylor is a guy who is on the slide just looking to be dominated by a new up and comer.....

Basically everyone wants to see Taylor defeated...even some of his fans are crying over his performances...lord knows I have been. I used to be a huge fan of Taylor's...I was thrilled that he was going to pick up the mantle.

Had he have taken it...really taken it from Hopkins instead of having it handed to him...I could deal with his shitty outtings of late...but I am ready to see Taylor gone.

Has Taylor looked crappy his last few outings against a couple of 154 pounders....Well the Ouma fight was just out right pitiful...Though Taylor won Ouma is not in the top tier as far as performances anymore...It was a fight though Jermain controlled and there was no doubt on the winner...

I can not believe that people can actually stomach talking about this fight...so I won't.

The Spinks fight is one that to be honest there is no shame in...Corey can not break wind with a power shot but he can make anyone look bad when he is on point and he can frustrate anyone in the world...IMO Taylors performance in that fight was more due to him not wanting to look bad and Coreys style more then anything....

Again, I can not believe that people can actually stomach talking about this fight either...so I won't...cept to say that Taylor should have pretty much hammered this fool out like he should have Ouma.

Taylor may not be exciting and his 2 wins over Hopkins were not exactly show stoppers but talent is what he has and his jaw is not questionable....He is a much rounded fighter then Pavlik and has been to the big dance many more times.....

Taylor got cracked in the 9th & 10th by Hopkins so hard that he almost went down...after that he shelled up & VERY ARGUEABLEY almost gave the match away. He never took it to Hopkins like he should have & honestly I will always believe that Hopkins outlanded him & won the match in the last half of the bout.

Taylor has wins over Hopkins twice, a draw with Wright, a win over Spinks, Ouma, Joppy, Edouard, and Marquez...plus his KO % is nothing to laugh at 17 out of 27,,,,,,,,Add that to all his amateur experience and you have a well rounded guy worthy of his ranking as the best MW in the world currently

Wright beat Taylor & we should all be having a different discussion.

Pavlik has McKart,,Pierre and Miranda on his resume and his Amateur resume is no way near as impressive and Taylors.....

Huge difference in the here & now.

I am not saying that Kelly can't beat Taylor...Or am I saying Taylor is going to beat Pavlik....

I am just saying I think people are jumping the gun on this one.....This is more of a case where people want a new champion due to Taylors boring style and just hoping Pavlik beats him rather then people actually using their heads and sizing things up......

Like I said I am not picking either way or do I really care who wins this one so my thoughts are unbiased...

I am just wondering if I am alone on this opinion?

All that being said...I'm not picking Pavlik as a shoe in as the next mid champ. Pavlik has a lot of holes & chinks in his armor that Taylor if he applies himself could take advantage of...the thing is...he didn't reach for his best against Hopkins, Wright, Spinks, or Ouma...so why is now going to be any different?

Truthfully...I hope that Pavlik stops him...but I aint bankin on it.

[Wacko3205]

I think people are fooled by Pavilik win over an overrated Miranda. Taylor will go back to his old self in this one and i think not only will he win, i think he will dominate Pavilik

Taylor's old ways were about 3 or 4 years ago & I aint talkin about against that shoe of a sparring partner Eduord or Joppy. The Taylor that blasted Bunema is what needs to show.

I really believe that Taylor of old is gone. Taylor's begun to believe his HBO's hype.

Now way in hell he dominates Pavlik...Pavlik's got too much heart & power...the jab is what Taylor will need to revive to handily beat Pavlik.

[Beanflicker]

I think it just comes down to the fact that people often overrate the knockout artist or the more "exciting" fighter. People usually make picks using the data that is fresh in their mind, and fans have Pavlik destroying a fellow good prospect in Miranda in an exciting brawl and Jermain winning a boring decision over a much smaller Cory Spinks fresh in their minds, so their going with Pavlik.

Jermain is on a higher level than the guys Pavlik has fought. He's handled tougher opposition than Pavlik. And IMO he is the must more skilled boxer of the two. I say Jermain wins a clear cut UD.

[El Gamo]

I think it just comes down to the fact that people often overrate the knockout artist or the more "exciting" fighter. People usually make picks using the data that is fresh in their mind, and fans have Pavlik destroying a fellow good prospect in Miranda in an exciting brawl and Jermain winning a boring decision over a much smaller Cory Spinks fresh in their minds, so their going with Pavlik.

Jermain is on a higher level than the guys Pavlik has fought. He's handled tougher opposition than Pavlik. And IMO he is the must more skilled boxer of the two. I say Jermain wins a clear cut UD.

Whilst I agree that there will be a bit of over rating and under rating,it's only natural going by the fighters last performances,everyone who says JT is more skilled is missing the main points:

Skill alone does not win fights.

Kelly is bigger and stronger than anyone JT has fought.

JT gasses and Kelly's stamina is astounding.

Kelly showed his heart taking bombs from Pantera and has tremendous power in both hands.

When was the last time JT used the jab effectively??

This fight could go either way but the points made for JT to win thus far have not been persuasive at all in my opinion. So what if JT beat Hopkins and drew with Wright? I don't see that having any relevance with this fight because Kelly is the polar opposite of those 2.

I'm tilting more towards Kelly at the moment,but like I said,it's a close fight. I just see more factors in favour of Pavlik like his activity levels,his power,his chin and his stamina.

[Memphis]

You cant blame people for going with Pavlik, he's just smacked the piss out of Miranda and Taylor has looked less than impressive in his recent outings, its more than that actually, he hasnt looked interested to be honest.

Im not sold on Pavlik, great win and all but I wasn't convinced by Miranda either.

50/50 fight for me. If Taylor doesnt show up he's in a world of trouble though.

[Mar]

I totally agree with daxx on this one, pavlik beat miranda and went from contender to this huge wrecking ball of a fighter, i like pavlik but i don't think he's as good as all the hype neither was miranda.

[ICB]

I totally agree with daxx on this one, pavlik beat miranda and went from contender to this huge wrecking ball of a fighter, i like pavlik but i don't think he's as good as all the hype neither was miranda.

Pavlik was always a huge wrecking ball of a fighter even before Miranda fight i thought he was always good.

[Mar]

I totally agree with daxx on this one, pavlik beat miranda and went from contender to this huge wrecking ball of a fighter, i like pavlik but i don't think he's as good as all the hype neither was miranda.

Pavlik was always a huge wrecking ball of a fighter even before Miranda fight i thought he was always good.

You may be right but there is a night and day difference of what people think about him pre and post miranda. Was miranda that good ?? Was that win that impressive that "bam" he can go from miranda to taylor, i ask you cause you seem to be one of the few that actually really followed him before that fight, i admittingly did not at least not as close as i should have i guess. Or is it taylors lack of performance recently for whatever reason that makes pavlik such a threat, i don't wanna start a huge argument, i really would like and opinion from someone more knowledgeable about this guy since i've only seem him fight like twice i belive....outside of youtube clips and stuff like that.