BraggingRightsCorner.com - TAYLOR - PAVLIK 2, WHO WINS AND HOW?... A BRC Exclusive Poll

-Photo Credit: Mr. Will/HBO-

BRC INNER CIRCLE...

Aladdin Freeman: Pavlik KO 10 but I think if Taylor presses the fight he may get caught earlier...

George Elsasser: Last outing the pick here was Taylor by early stoppage, or decision if it went the scheduled twelve rounds - close but no cigar when Jermain had Kelly down, bloodied and ready to go in stanza two, but fails to get help from referee Steve Smoger who lets the battering continue. What we quickly learned from that lopsided stanza was Taylor must have skipped a few classes of "finishing" school.
Still, over the first half it was all Taylor - but a tough no-quit Pavlik hung in there while taking his medicine. Then it's numero seven, and a Pavlik one-two with mustard on the right hand and Taylor is in a whole different naborhood - some strange avenue named "Queer Street" and would be found sitting on the corner for the full count.
I applaud the power and toughness of Youngstown's Kelly Pavlik - but guess what?
The pick is Taylor by stoppage inside six stanzas - the opportunities were there before and will be once again - and guess here is one of my favorite referees named Smoger will not get the assignment on this trip - and Kelly will not survive the early skirmishes.

Stephen Jones: I watched how Jermain had a decent amount of control before being knocked out the first time. I love the underdog and loved the way Pavlik demolished Miranda as well as Jermain.
I think Taylor is too motivated this time and Kelley has had his 15 minutes of well earned fame.
I say Taylor by stoppage in 8... but not without a scare or two..

Scott Sanders: Boxing history will show that more often than not, when a fighter loses by a (non-fluke) KO, he loses the rematch if it takes place within a year. I look for Pavlik to get the job done quicker and more decisively. He is the one whose confidence will be boosted and he also has more of a right to improve off their first fight. I like both of these guys, so without any bias my prediction is Pavlik KO-5.

Gary Todd: I actually picked Pavlik first time around. I felt Taylor took him lightly, and it was meant to be his last fight at the weight. Anyway, this time around I am going for Taylor by KO. Pavlik was let off the hook last time out, as Taylor didn't have enough in the tank. This time Taylor will be training with his old trainer and will have done the hard championship yards. Taylor by KO in the 4th round of a very exciting rematch.

Ed Ludwig: Rematches usually never live up to its predecessor and I don’t believe this one will either. Kelly Pavlik is on a roll and he had my vote for Fighter of the Year in 2007. I really wonder where Jermain Taylor is mentally, especially after a vicious knockout loss. Will a refocused Taylor along with his former trainer Ozell Nelson be enough to stop the Ghost in his tracks? The answer is no, although I expect Taylor to make a fight out of it and see the final bell but after it’s all said and done Kelly Pavlik will get the nod by a majority decision.

Jose Hernandez: Pavlik by KO in the 7th. Should be an awesome fight, but I think Pavlik is too big and too strong for Taylor.

Rizwaan Zahid: Both fought a great fight last time, but most were surprised (I wasn't) at Pavlik's jab. Pavlik doesn't have too much to change for this fight, but Taylor does. Pavlik decided to take a dumb move and drop his hands in the second round and he paid the price for it. Following the first few rounds they respected each other's power. Taylor seems to be beaming with confidence heading into the rematch, and therefore we might see him go and land a few meaningful punches in the first couple of rounds. Expect Pavlik to survive Taylor's early assault before establishing his jab, as well as his rhythm, and either get a late fight stoppage or a comfortable decision. But for the sake of argument, Pavlik TKO 10 (yes, same prediction as last time).

Martin Wade: Let me say this, when prognosticating a fight I also like to make a call on whether each man maintains, loses or increases market value. I believe Jermain will carry the fight because (bad habits and all) Ozell Nelson gives him the comfort to “just fight.” Taylor will be ahead late on the scorecards but Pavlik will stay patient and trust in his jab.
Pavlik will win by catching Jermain late with one punch- the straight right hand. This is a similar scenario minus the combination and the early knockdown from Pavlik. Unfortunately for Taylor, at 166 (and beyond) Pavlik will be an All Time Great Power Puncher. Taylor maintains the market value he salvaged with the first fight, Pavlik goes through the roof and earns a “gimme”against Duddy at MSG. Whether Taylor can live with being just a belt holder in and around “Kellyworld” is up to him.
Pavlik late in the fight

Frank Gonzalez Jr./Sharkie's Machine: I like Pavlik to win the rematch, by KO, probably around the 8th or 9th round.
Taylor is very game and this time, he's going to very exceptionally motivated. Taylor is a very tough man and will come out stronger and more aggressive, which will play right into Pavlik taking advantage of Taylor's less than championship caliber boxing skills. Pavlik is bigger, stronger and a much better boxer. Taylor will make mistakes as he's going to be nervous with so much on the line for him that it may not last as long as I figure. But who really ever knows? That's why they fight the fights!
Pavlik was lucky to get the chance to fight Taylor the first time. That he beat him the way he did, wasn't too big a surprise...if you saw the way Pavlik destroyed the very dangerous Edison Miranda.
If boxing had a legitimate rankings system, we'd see Champions fighting the best contenders all the time.

Kenny Perrault: Kelly Pavlik does it in half the time it took him in the first fight. Pavlik KO4.

Ricky Ray Taylor- www.BoxerDRILLZ.com: The last time Kelly Pavlik endured the reality that he wasn't the best fighter in the ring, he stood across from Jermain Taylor. I wasn't there but I'm quite positive that the showcase was a grand event. Making the Olympic team and having the opportunity to represent one's country in the Olympic games is the epitome, the ULTIMATE summation of an amateur boxer's ring-wars. The buck stops there. And for Kelly Pavlik, his lifelong dream of becoming an Olympian came to an abrupt halt as he embarked on a campaign to fight for dollars in a summer which he'd hoped to be fighting for gold.
Thus, by the time Jermain Taylor put a cap on his amateur wars, Pavlik had already KO'd 7 opponents en route to an unblemished record. In essence - although Taylor proved to be the better man in the amateurs - in the pro ranks, he had some catching up to do. And in light of last September's whuppin' he's still got a ways to go. This counter-strike rendition seems eerily similar to -one- Mosley/Forrest; a failed attempt which usually only surprises the "fans" and not us know-it-alls.
Pavlik wins by KO in the 5th!

Darren Yates: I’d say Pavlik will use similar tactics as the first fight with the exception of sticking his chin out daring for Taylor to hit him (like he did in the second round of the first fight). I expect Pavlik will score another TKO around 9 rounds as Taylor will probably not have fully recovered from such a devastating KO either physically or mentally. Taylor should have taken some time to recover with a tune up fight to build his confidence. Taylor is going to be so hungry for revenge he will probably be reckless and make a few mistakes. Pavlik by 9th round TKO!

Xavier 'El Mago' Cepeda: Pavlik TKO by the 8th ... read more from Cepeda here

Elisa Harrison: Capricious Jermain will get his you-know-what handed to him by Mr. Pavlik, again. The judges will not need to bother.

BRC's FRIENDS...

Teddy Atlas: Pavlik stops Taylor in 5!

Legendary referee Elmo Adolph - I like Taylor... this will be his night

Boxer DeVarryl 'Touch of Sleep' Williamson: Pavlik wins AGAIN, 5th rd TKO!

Boxer Robbie Peden: Pavlik again; too big anf too strong.

Boxer Emanuel Agustus: I am a fan of boxing and I just want to see a good fight between the two of them. Thank you for wanting my opinion, looking forward to the fight.

Boxer Devo Frias: Well, to start, I'm friends with Taylor so I will like to see him win, but to answer the question I know he will win. He has a lot of pride, so he will win.

Boxer Vanes Martyrosan: Gotta go with my boy Kelly... As hungry as Taylor will be for this one, I just don't see Pavlik losing while he is at the top of his game, and we all damn well know that's where he is at.

Boxer Joe Gilbert: Pavlik by KO after 6. He might go down early again though, but he'll get up. Jermain will punch himself out going for KO.

Boxer Pete Frissina: I think it is going to be a back and forth war and it can go either way but I lean towards Taylor by split decision.

Boxer Nate Campbell: I think Pavlik wins again, I just don't know how much Taylor wants it. Right now Kelly has a mental edge over Jermain. I feel like it should be good until Jermain gets hit the first time solidly. Then we will see what he is really made of; we already know Kelly will fight off the deck, now it's Jermain's turn to show and prove.

Boxer Randall Bailey: I think Kelly will win again. I think he just has Jermain's number an he is constantly in your face. Don't think JT can fight 12rds with Pavlik in his face hitting him like that...

Boxer Roberto Benitez: Jermain Taylor should win. He will be fighting harder this time and maybe some fear will bring out the best in him. I see him winning KO 5th round.

Boxer Jonathan Reid: I predict Pavlik by KO late.

Boxer/singer Arsi Rey: Well, in my opinion, Kelly Pavlik is going to win by knockout in the 6 or 7 round.... watch!

Brian AKA "Jersey Boy" - Pavlik UD

Kenny Barrett, Florida trainer: I think it will go the distance.. Jermain Taylor will play it smart and win by 12 round decision.

Keith Terceira, boxing scribe/editor: Lessons are learned by Jermain Taylor whom the media had already accused of being not quite as untouchable as the hype alleged. Pavlik looks to reaffirm his stop at the top of the middleweight division and prove that the first fight was not a matter of Taylor punching himself out.
I polled a few people and what I was told was what I suspected, it's a toss up fight...
Undefeated welterweight Andre Berto thinks that Taylor will get his revenge.
Andy Lee is looking for Pavlik to repeat his first knockout...
Former Taylor trainer Emanuel Steward think that Jermain must get him early to prevail in this fight....
My pick Taylor by UD

Armando Cabrera, http://www.letstalkboxing.com: A fight with action from the start. Jermain Taylor will fight a lot harder to revenge his lost but Kelly Pavlik will stand his ground and will fight back to obtain a victory.

Antonio Purriños, Editor-in-Chief "La Voz de Miami Beach' - Nuestra opinión es que Pavlik debe ganar nuevamente en la revancha. Esto puede ser por cualquier via. Si la pelea llega antes del último round, esto será dentro de los tres últimos. Taylor saldrá a pelear con mas cautela y tratando de evitar el cambio de golpes cuerpo a cuerpo. Pero la presión que le impondrá Pavlik lo obligará a aceptar el reto. Pienso que será un buen pleito.

2-15-2008