PAVLIK THE MAVERICK

By Moncayo Blackbull

(IB-September 25, 2007) - Kelly Pavlik can indeed prove he is one of a kind, a nonconformist, and a rebel this coming Saturday when he meets world champion Jermain Taylor in Atlantic City, NJ. Pavilk will challenge Taylor for his WBC/WBO world middleweight titles.

Will Pavlik win? Can Pavlik win? I think he can and will

Pavlik has quietly worked his way up the ladder, undetected by the “hate” radar so many up and coming fighters run into. Pavik known in the ring as “The Ghost” and the moniker fits him well. No longer will Pavlik be boxing in the shadows of name fighters such as Ronald Wright, Bernard Hopkins and Cory Spinks.

Pavlik’s time has come, his patients have been the best asset to his career. He even had to fight two WBC title eliminator contests to get his shot at the title. I guess his first title eliminating fight against Jose Luis Zertuche was not convincing enough so he had to fight a second eliminating bout against Edison Miranda, knocking both opponents out. Pavlik stopped Zertuche in round 8 and stopped Miranda in 7.

Pavlik will bring to the ring attitude and power, undefeated and coming off two good wins. Taylor on the other hand may have the better experience with his victories over Bernard Hopkins and Winky Wright but the truth is not many people believe Taylor won those fights. Taylor also won bouts over Kassim Ouma and Cory Spinks, two fighters that fought their entire careers at a lower weight. Unlike his recent fights, in this contest Taylor will be facing a bigger and younger man.

Pavlik will provide the pressure in this contest while Taylor will do his usual punching and running routine. And that’s what leads me to believe Pavlik will win this contest.

There is a reason the public has not taken Taylor as true champion, he tries hard to be a great defensive fighter to the likes of the Sugar Ray’s but has not come significantly close.  Taylor does not stay in the pocket and make the opponent miss, rather, he reaches with punches and runs. This hit and run style of fighting will not work against Pavlik should Pavlik come to fight.

This contest should be similar to the Julio Cesar Chavez vs. Meldrick Taylor with the consistent pressure of Pavlik eventually paying off in the latter rounds.

Why am I picking Pavlik to win this contest? A fighter is only as good as his last performances. Pavlik performed well against Zertuche and Miranda where Taylor struggled against the smaller Ouma and Spinks and in my opinion, lost against Hopkins and Wright.

I may be way off base on this one but I don’t think so. Opinions and predictions come a dime a dozen and here you have my ten cents worth.

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