Undefeated World Boxing Council/World Boxing Organization middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik (32-0, 29 KOs) has reportedly been given the ok to begin training for his rematch with Jermain Taylor on February 16th at the MGM Grand, in Las Vegas, Nevada, according to the latest boxing news. Pavlik, 25, was recently badly injured while replacing a window at his house, an injury that required multiple stitches in his arms, enough that it was thought that his bout with Taylor might have to be canceled or pushed back to a later date. As it is, Pavlik is ready to go, his doctor said.
Pavlik, a knockout puncher with incredible power, stopped previously unbeaten WBO/WBC middleweight champion Jermain Taylor (27-1-1, 17 KOs) on September 29th, knocking him out in the 7th round of a grueling slug fest. Pavlik was trailing in the fight going into the 7th round when he nailed the 29 year-old Taylor with a huge right hand, stunning him badly. Pavlik would then follow up with more bombs, knocking Taylor down twice before the fight was ultimately stopped at 2:14 of the 7th, with Taylor taking tremendous punishment at the hands of Pavlik.
After this win, Pavlik had talked about perhaps fighting John Duddy, a bout that would have been an easy fight for Pavlik, and a good payday as well, but Taylor had a rematch clause in his contract with Pavlik, thus preventing him from fighting anyone else. As for Taylor, it’s a risky proposition fighting Pavlik so soon after his knockout loss, as he was badly hurt in the fight, and would likely be better off taking more time off to recover from the fight.
Likewise, Taylor has recently lost his trainer Emanuel Steward, who stepped down from position. Not a good sign for Taylor, as he’ll be trained by someone new and won’t have a lot of time under his belt with them before his bout with Pavlik.