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Pavlik credits Taylor for a tough battle
Jermain Taylor believed he was the winner.
By JOHN BASSETTI
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
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Pavlik After Fight
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Pavlik Taylor II
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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. It 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 this fight, and I didn’t win.”
Taylor opened with a left that snapped Pavlik’s head back, although Pavlik responded with a left-right that tagged the Arkansan. Both got in another good left before the first round ended.
In the second, Pavlk had a nice left-right follow-up as he was getting good power on his punches. However, Taylor finished by registering a good right hook.
In the third, Taylor started getting chants at midround as his flurry looked good but didn’t do damage as Pavlik covered up. But a left-right combination by Taylor snapped Pavlik’s head back, again.
In the fourth, Pavlik landed a left-right, again, but Taylor’s left hook found a target in Pavlik’s head. A quick left also tagged Pavlik, who managed to keep his steps coming forward.
In the fifth, Pavlik stuck Taylor with a left jab, followed by a few rights before Jermain had a good counter with a left on a few occasions.
In the sixth, Taylor’s left jab got Pavlik again, and he got in a couple of body punches. Taylor’s left hook also found its target, as did an overhand right as Taylor seemed ahead.
In the seventh, the chants for both sides were equally loud, as Taylor registered a right-hand lead, then a left jab.
In the eighth, Taylor got in a couple left hooks, but Pavlik placed some quick left jabs, then a couple of left-right combinations.
In the ninth, it seemed that Taylor wasn’t punching as much, or as busy, so the round looked fairly mild.
In the 10th, Taylor rocked Pavlik with a strong right, one of a few Taylor threw as the Arkansas fighter seemed to move less.
In the 11th, Taylor delivered a left hook and left uppercut and tried for Pavlik’s body. Pavlik, however, finished with a succession of good combinations.
In the 12th, Taylor delivered a straight right lead punch, and Pavlik tried love taps while they clenched. Pavlik got in some left jabs, and left-right combinations, before Taylor responded with a left jab in the last minute.
bassetti@vindy.com