With the rematch fast approaching for former middleweight Jermain Taylor (27-1-1, 17 KOs) against undefeated knockout artist Kelly Pavlik (32-0, 29 KOs) on February 16, at the MGM Grand, in Las Vegas, Nevada, the big question is whether the 29 year-old Taylor will have a better game plan this time around to counteract Pavlik’s slugging style and knockout power. To be sure, last time around, Taylor played directly into Pavlik’s hands by going right at him, trying to match him punch for punch and attempting to out-slug a known slugger.
Even then, Taylor, a vastly talented fighter, came within an eyelash of knocking Pavlik out in the 2nd round when he dropped him with a series of huge, lightning fast shots. However, in doing so, Taylor got a little over anxious and punching himself out while trying to score the knockout.
Despite being told by his trainer Emanuel Steward to not slug with Pavlik, Taylor seemed to make it a point of going right at Pavlik. In a way, it was similar to the strategy that Joe Frazier employed against George Foreman in their title bout in 1973, a fight in which Frazier went right at the more powerful Foreman was promptly knocked down six times en route to losing a 2nd round TKO to Foreman. In Taylor’s case, he doesn’t need to slug with Pavlik, the slower fighter, because Taylor has extraordinary boxing skills and handspeed, enough so that he can stay on the outside all night long and easily win the fight.
Taylor doesn’t need to worry about Pavlik troubling him with a constant jab, for instance, like the type of jab that gave Taylor problems against Winky Wright. Taylor just needs to focus on boxing, staying on the move and trying to win as many of the early rounds as possible, so that if he begins to fade in the later rounds, as he often does, he;ll have enough of a lead to pull out the decision. Pavlik, 25, will essentially be presenting the same style as last time out, trying hard to take Taylor out as fast as possible.
If anything, Pavlik with probably be even more confident, thinking that he has Taylor figured out, and thusly will be putting all his energy into every shot he trows. This actually plays into Taylor’;s hands, because Pavlik didn’t see the true Taylor on that night, he saw a version of Taylor from years previous when he was more of a knockout puncher. Since then, Taylor had learned how to use his boxing skills, enabling him to win impressive victories over Bernard Hopkins, Cory Spinks and Kassim Ouma. Clearly, this is the type of style that Taylor needs to go back to if he wants to be successful against Pavlik. Believe me, if Taylor can use his boxing skills, the plodding Pavlik doesn’t stand a ghost of a chance. I see Taylor as having learned his lesson, knowing that he doesn’t have the power or chin to stand and trade with Pavlik. I see this fight as an easy 12-round decision for Taylor, fight that will set him up for a big mega-bout with Joe Calzaghe for later in 2008.
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