Judges unanimous: Pavlik WINS!

LAS VEGAS — The decision was unanimous, but the fans had other opinions.

The judges scored the fight 117-111, 115-113 and 116-112 for Kelly Pavlik, but, judging by the crowd at the MGM Grand, it should have been the other way.

Still, the clear-cut numbers register as official as the Youngstowner came away beat up, but still a winner.

“We both did a good job tonight,” Pavlik said. “The strategy was to pressure him and back him up. My jab and punches landed more. Nothing will top the first victory over Taylor, but this was a great win. Jermain taking the rematch made the sport better. Taylor was better tonight, but so was I. I was a more tactical fight than the first one.”

Pavlik said that his punches were being countered by Jermain in the first six rounds.

“Those were his best,” Pavlik said. “I tried to land body shots, but he kept moving. In rounds 10 through 12, I was finally landing the body shots. Taylor was tiring. I could feel him exhaling after I hit him.”

Pavlik said that Taylor was a smart fighter. “He knew what to do, he was aggressive and never backed down. It was pretty special because, to beat a world champion like Jermain Taylor is pretty special.”

Taylor thought he was doing pretty well in the fight.

“I know it was a close fight, but I guess Pavlik won the last couple of rounds. Pavlik’s a strong fighter and I give him a lot of credit. I thought I did well. I listened to my corner. I thought it was a close fight and I thought I won. I had a good rhythm the entire fight. Pavlik caught me with a good body shot late in the fight. I trained my butt off for ths fight and I didn’t win.”

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