What do u feel is the future for Pavlik and Taylor?

Question

Even though the crowd was smaller than I expected it sounded like 50,000 people were at the M.G.M. Grand Garden. Both fighters put up a excellent fight and I had it close until the last 2 rounds when Pavlik turned it up to win. I was very impressed by Taylor and how he stayed off the ropes and fought more technical than the first fight. Pavlik showed a overlooked weapon with his jab. Both showed a lot of flaws that they need to work on in the future. So will Pavlik unify the belts and be a legendary champion like Arum says? And with Taylor moving up will he conquer the super middleweights? To me both of their futures look good. Whats your opinion?

And p.s. I had a chance to tell Larry Merchant how popular he is on this forum, and I got a blank look and grunt from him.lol

Answer 1

alright i just want to say is that taylor fought a much smarter fight this time but judges had the fight UD which is complete bs, one judge even had it 111~117. this fight was a draw.

as for the future of each fighter i hear roy jones wants pavlik so that is a possibility for him as for jermaine taylor the super middle weight division is well crowded so good luck to him

Answer 2

I think Pavlik will take a few money fights to cash in on the past 10 years worth of poverty, then move up to 168, hopefully ending up in the ring with the winner of Calzaghe/Hopkins if Bernard and Joe don't retire first.  The sky is the limit for Pavlik, his future is bright and odds are he will stay at 160 for a few fights.

Jermain has a tougher road to travel, and has to take some risky fights to regain his former status.  If Abraham or Sturm want to step up in competition, Taylor would fight them for free, just to get a shot at another belt, but odds are they won't take the risk.  Jermain will most likely have to move up to 168 and hope for the best, I don't think the other two middle weights would give him a shot.  I don't think Taylor would fair well at 175, so his choices are limited.

Answer 3

Pavlik will stay at middleweigt for a little while at least.  In June, he's got a title defense against either John Duddy or Felix Trinidad (if he can make the weight), and then possibly a fight against paper champion Arthur Abraham (who is a good fighter but holds a paper belt).  Then I would expect him to move up to super middleweight.  For Taylor, even though he lost he fought well and quite a few people believe he deserved the decision, so he is still a top guy and his immediate future is at super middleweight where he might fight his former Olympic teammate Jeff Lacy.  And who knows, he may even fight Pavlik again down the line after Pavlik eventually can't make 160 anymore and has to move up.

Answer 4

I believe the best of Kelly Pavlic has yet to come,he is still very inexperienced and I thought he won pretty convincingly,Taylor I think is a spent force and I believe Arum will be prove correct,but I think not only will he unify but h**l move to super middle,which I suspect Calzaghe guessed and was a factor in him moving to light Heavy!

Answer 5

I think Taylor lost both of his fights with Hopkins and his fight with Winky Wright.    His career success has been based on relatively weak competition.  If he moves up to 168 pounds his punch will lose some steam and his opponents' punches will gain some.

I hope he saved his money.

Pavlik is exciting and can keep going for awhile.  He has the time to improve because he has no really great contender stalking him.

s***w Larry Merchant!  He's like some other sportscasters who think they, not the athletes, are the real stars.  Did he ask you if you wanted his autograph -- for $50.00, of course.

You're a former fighter.  Why didn't you wing a hook to Larry's groin and hear what a REAL grunt sounds like?  Lol

Answer 6

I see good things in the future from both. Taylor should be better at super middle. He had problems making weight so he was starving himself before fights, the difference showed in this last fight in which Taylor didn't have to starve himself.

Answer 7

pavlik  bet taylor on the 12 round