Why was Pavlik/Taylor made at 166lbs?

Question

seems like it was a no-win situation for Taylor. If he won he didn't get his title back anyway as the fight was over the middleweight limit.

Answer 1

Taylor wanted to move up a class, he had been starving himself before fights in order to make weight. As such, Taylor didnt want the title back in that class.. hes moving on. BUT, he still  wanted to get back in there and go toe to toe with Pavlik.  Yeah, he lost but you have to respect his desire to get back in there and the great fight he put up this time. You could tell Taylor had a lot more spunk because he has been able to eat better.

Answer 2

i believe that it was taylor who wanted the match at a catchweight, maybe he struggles to make 160, and wanted to be much stronger for the rematch......as it turns out they were both stronger at 164 ....

Answer 3

The person above me is correct...........as the champion in the first fight Taylor had a rematch clause put in but the weight specified was made higher because they felt he'd be stronger with a few more pounds added on..............i'm sure he was having trouble getting down to 160 because now he's moving up to fight in the super middleweight division.

I don't think it was a no win situation because if Taylor would've won then he would prove to himself and Pavlik that he could beat him.........and usually if two fighters split in two fights then a rubber match happens.

If Pavlik lost the fight and refuses to fight a third match than the nobody would be thinking about how great he is because he has the middleweight title..........he'd be persecuted in the court of public opinion for a pretty long time.........maybe for the rest of his career.

It would've been interesting to see what weight they would've fought at had Pavlik lost though..........usually the champion has the rematch clause built into the contract and Pavlik would've known that Talor didn't want to fight anymore at 160 lbs...........