Jermain Taylor

Well as I predicted Kelly Pavlik knocked out the overhyped Miranda. I watched the the sparring session between Taylor and little Corey Spinks Saturday night and learned just how bad Taylor is. He fights too far over his feet (leaning forward), keeps his left too low and generally mugs for the cameras while fighting. Kelly Pavlik will destroy Taylor period. I do not think that we will get to see this fight because the smoke and mirror management of Taylor will dodge Kelly. Incidently, Calzage will wipe the floor with Taylor. He will outbox him, out punch him and out hustle him and ultimatley, knock him out. Edited by: Don Wassall

Taylor is a coward, an imitation, and a fraud. He can't even talk a good game. There really isn't anying super about him. He has been very well managed. He was beaten up by Hopkins but won fairly on points he made with his jab. He hid behind his jab. He lost to Wright but being the champ was given a draw. Everyone else that he fought we men smaller than him or men brought in for target practice. Even that sap Atlas said that all he had was a jab but added: "maybe that is all he'll need".
Well, the time has come for him to need much more. But he doesn't have it. Emanuel Stewart was mad at him in his corner against Spinks because Taylor couldn't find the courage to spear Spinks in the chest, freeze him, and work some combinations to slow Spinks down. Taylor understood what his corner wanted but he couldn't find the courage to take some of Spinks' shots in order to finnish him. And if you have ever watched Spinks you would know he is a punchless wonder. Now Taylor must fight either Pavlik, Calzaghe, or Kessler. Three courageous and skillfull white fighters who would love to build a reputation by knocking him out. Somehow I just don't think any of these fights will happen.

What annoys me about Jermain Taylor is the fact that over here in the UK most of us believe Taylor is a really top class fighter and something special due to the praise that the American media gives him.

The powers that be in boxing will have Kessler, Calzage and Pavlik fight each other, rather than pit them againts the dodge ball champion Taylor. And yes Maple leaf, Taylor sounded more like an aggrevated gorrila in the mist during his pre-fight press than a middle weight chimp, ur champ.

Forgot to add this. Something else quite odd about Talyor. During announcements he cleans his shoes by alternately scraping them in a style that reminds me of one of my dogs that can't get the sh*te off his feet. Well I guess the analogy is correct, cause Taylor stinks that ring up with it everytime he fights.

WHITE NOISE said:

Kelly Pavlik will destroy Taylor period. I do not think that we will get to see this fight because the smoke and mirror management of Taylor will dodge Kelly.

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If Taylor doesn't fight either Pavlik or Calzaghe, his reputation will take another huge hit. Even if he fights Calzaghe, people will say that he's ducking Pavlik for a lighter puncher, even though he would be moving up in weight. He's in a difficult position. Or he might just say "screw it" and fight for the most money, regardless of who the opponent is.

Incidently, Calzage will wipe the floor with Taylor. He will outbox him, out punch him and out hustle him and ultimatley, knock him out.

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If Taylor has problems with speed, a fight with Calzaghe will be quite compelling. Not only does Calzaghe have hand speed and defense, he's also bigger and stronger than these puffed up junior-middles and welterweights. I don't know if Calzaghe can KO him at this point in his career, but I could see him winning a decision. His biggest problem may not be Taylor's hands, but his own. He may have to fight several rounds with a broken hand. I'm sure he could tough it out, but he's a high volume puncher, and he has to always maintain his work rate, no matter how much pain he's in. He did it for three rounds against Manfredo, but he better be prepared to go the distance with Taylor.

But if Calzaghe wants Taylor, it better happen soon. Taylor's stock is plummeting, and if he waits too long, beating Taylor may not do much for his legacy. It may already be too late. People might say, "Taylor struggled with little guys, so who cares if Calzaghe beat him?" The winner of Hopkins/ Wright may be more of a "career-defining fight" at this point. We'll see what happens. If only Calzaghe could've fought Taylor right after he fought Hopkins or Wright.

Do you guys think that there's any possibility that Taylor could beat Pavlik by back-pedaling, landing the occasional jab, and win a decision in a boring fight? Seeing how much difficulties Taylor had with a quick fighter, Calzaghe may be the better match up (or worse match up, from his perspective.) Then again, he's never fought a big puncher either. It'll be interesting to see what kind of chin he has.

Bottom line, Pavlik/ Taylor or Calzaghe/ Taylor! Bring it on!

P.S. I do give Taylor some credit for complimenting Pavlik's performance. That was classy. Edited by: JD074

Taylor can not back peddle all night againts Pavlik, or Calzage. Both present "high volume" punching. Kelly Pavlik also brings power to spare and after a healthy five or six rounds of body shots, Taylor won't have a bike to peddle. Taylor " Sad intentions" is done.

WHITE NOISE said:

Taylor can not back peddle all night againts Pavlik, or Calzage. Both present "high volume" punching. Kelly Pavlik also brings power to spare and after a healthy five or six rounds of body shots, Taylor won't have a bike to peddle. Taylor " Sad intentions" is done.

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So the high volume punching would prevent that type of fight from happening. Interesting.


Here's a passage about these possible match-ups:

DiBella said talks with WBO and IBF super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe about a possible fight in London or Cardiff, Wales, against Taylor "were dead even before we walked in tonight," but he still includes the unbeaten Welshman as a likely future opponent.

"Going over to the lion's den to move up in weight against a guy whose hands are as fast as Calzaghe's is a helluva test, so we're going to look at our options," DiBella said. "There will be a big fight in the immediate future. Jermain wants to fight twice more this year, and Pavlik and Calzaghe are the main options. But it's all about the Benjamin Franklins."

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[url]http://www.usatoday.com/sports/boxing/2007-05-20-pavlik-chal lenger_N.htm[/url]

It's always about money, isn't it?

Another perspective on a possible Pavlik/ Taylor clash:

About Kelly's chances in the fight - I believe he certainly can pull it off. If you think of all the vulnerabilities that Cory Spinks didn't expose, which is Taylor's consistent backpedaling, low left hand, and tendency to get off-balance, they don't stack up well against Pavlik's approach to fighting. First of all, Pavlik doesn't know how to take a step back, and the fact that he is bigger and probably stronger than Jermain definitely gives me the impression that Taylor's back will graze the ropes more than a few times. Pavlik best shot also happens to be his right hand, which demolished both Zertuche and Miranda, and the fact that Taylor has recently shown a tendency to drop his left hand gives Pavlik a great target with his Sunday punch.

And although I have no second thoughts on whether or not Pavlik would be coming forward against Taylor, I do believe he has a good jab and the tactical skills necessary to make Taylor miss at times, though probably not consistently. Also Taylor's advantages in size, which he has over many of his former victims, will not be in full effect on a night in which he's facing the taller Pavlik. I am leaning towards Pavlik to walk off with the middleweight title, but regardless, there's one thing to be sure of, it will definitely be no Taylor-Spinks.

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http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=11031&more=1Edited by: JD074

Taylor should not even consider fighting Calzaghe.There is only ONE opponent who he should fight next and thats the Kelly "The Ghost" Pavlik.

He(Taylor) is not keen on fighting another good white fighter,Arthur Abraham,either.

The final option has to be considered a joke at this point unless Taylor's handlers decide it's time to cash out on this venture. World super middleweight king Joe Calzaghe (43-0, 32 KO) of Wales has been all but begging for a Taylor fight in recent weeks. Taylor's performances against Spinks, and before that Kasim Ouma, are all the evidence as to why. Taylor is good money for Calzaghe and it doesn't look like it would be tough money to come by either. Calzaghe is faster, a better athlete, and more experienced. Until Taylor proves otherwise, a Calzaghe fight is nothing short of disaster.

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http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=8778