Taylor wants a shot

By JOE SCALZO

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

YOUNGSTOWN — Move over John Duddy, it looks like Jermain Taylor wants another shot at Youngstown’s Kelly Pavlik.

Taylor, who lost his middleweight title to Pavlik last month, told Top Rank Boxing on Monday he plans to exercise his rematch clause with Pavlik, setting up a possible February non-title fight between the two at the catch weight of 166.

“He informed Top Rank,” said Pavlik’s manager, Cameron Dunkin. “There’s nothing done yet, though. They could change their mind tomorrow and we’d be back right where we are.”

Pavlik (32-0, 29 KOs) had been tentatively scheduled to fight Duddy on Jan. 26 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, the same venue that held the first Pavlik-Taylor fight.

But Taylor’s decision changes things. Taylor (27-1, 17 KOs) had secured an rematch clause in the contract before the first fight and repeatedly said he planned to use it.

Dunkin said a Taylor fight would probably take place in February.

By triggering the clause, he’s guaranteed to be Pavlik’s first opponent. He had until Oct. 29 to activate the clause.

Taylor lost his WBO and WBC titles to Pavlik when he was knocked out in the seventh round. One big question surrounding Taylor will likely be his choice of trainer. He reportedly is considering dumping legendary trainer Emanuel Steward, who has trained him the last four fights. Taylor has not looked impressive under Steward and may seek a change.

Duddy, an Irish middleweight, stopped Prince Arron in the second round on Saturday in Dublin in what many thought would be a tune-up for Pavlik.

A Duddy-Pavlik fight would have drawn plenty of interest around the boxing world. Duddy has a huge following in New York City and Pavlik has emerged as one of the biggest names is boxing since his knockout victories over Taylor and Edison Miranda in May.