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The HBO Saturday twin-bill served up a WBC
eliminator with power punching Kelly Pavlik
and Edison Miranda vying for a shot at middle
champion Jermain Taylor in the main event with
Cory Spinks.
Took no more than the opening bell to see which
bout would steal the show - and if "Pantera"
stole the pre-fight press conference - it was
crystal clear Pavlik stole the nite with a
round seven battering of the game Colombian.
Miranda arrived with better credentials - his
28-1, 24 KO’s had the edge in names over the
undefeated Pavlik at 30-0, 27 KO’s - then the
opening bell, and the one called "The Ghost"
has a game plan - to see how well "Pantera"
battles while in reverse.
Through four stanzas of soul searching, in the
trenches warfare, it hinted just maybe the
Youngstown rookie has found the answer - and on
this scorecard it was 3-1 Pavlik - and then a
round five key to the puzzle.
It’s stanza cinco and Miranda’s round virtue of
a monster right hand finding the mark - bad
news is Pavlik handles it - the chin is real.
Then stanza six, and Miranda down courtesy a
big right hand, and late in the round is
dropped again from left hook - rescued by the
bell - still, clearly not saved at this point
of a prior battle of attrition - and referee
Steve "Body Bag" Smoger along with Miranda
corner personnel lets things continue.
Finally, stanza seven and Miranda busted up and
down again - Smoger calls it finis at 1:54 of
the round.
Post Scripts: Pavlik ( 31-0, 28) ~ young at age
25 with good size at 6-2 - displayed positives
in this first mega-test. Major league chin
tested against valid power puncher. Met fire
with fire - single second guessing is not using
the size factor to advantage. Could use
textbook fine tuning before seen as complete
package.
Miranda ( 28-2, 24) ~ "Pantera"
@ age 26 not finished by any stretch, but could
use a refresher in technique - relying on guts
and power translates to fan friendly, but rest
of the story needs a jab and combination here
and there to bring out the
best.
Commentary: Merchant ~ tops as in ring
post-fite interviewer - although, his
preference of brawl over skill reeks of club
fight mentality. Regardless, far superior to
what he works alongside of.
Lewis ~ give us a break
Lummox - maybe a slot open on other side of the
pond.
Lampley ~ in usual form -
too much of nothing to say - caught flatfooted
by Merchant, the wimp replies with something
about not in disagreement, but simply quoting
from other expert opinions. Blah!
………………………………..........................................................................
Main
event follows under something of a handicap -
Jermain Taylor seen as Ring magazine
middleweight champion of the world - and I have
no quarrel with that argument considering the
alternatives - as in (WBA) Javier Castillejo;
(WBO) Arthur Abraham - in with (IBF) Super
Welter champion Cory Spinks.
Considering the obvious righty versus - lefty
in style, both primarily counter punchers,
along with the expected Taylor power punch
advantages, this one never had a chance.
Went the full 12 stanzas with nothing memorable
or positive from start to finish - both started
and finished in defensive counter punch mode -
think about it, a big middleweight with good
power and hand speed, in with a no-threat in
either glove and it goes patty-cake over 36
minutes of fight time.
Taylor remains clean at 27-0- 1, 17 KO’s via
split decision to the tune of 117-111, 115-113,
Spinks 117-11 - and how do you do to that bit
of math? My unofficial saw it a sleep-inducing
Taylor 116-113 in points and 7-4-1 under round
by round method.
Closing comments: Taylor ~ mystery is unable to
free himself from the tutored and locked in
career counter punch modus operandi - this one
should have been exception to the rule. But
remained in the cocoon. Split verdict eludes
me.
Spinks ~
think this guy should work more on the ring
entrance - rap is in - he’s long yesterday’s
news. Lacks Daddy Leon and Uncle Michael’s
warrior mentality. Using the ring is one thing
- running in reverse another.
Quote of the
night award: Goes to Larry Merchant in a
landslide: "Spinks is a human knuckle ball."
GEL -
5-19-2007
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