Boxingtalk reported today that Jermain Taylor and Roy Jones, Jr. might fight as early as June. Jones is bigger than Taylor, but my initial reaction is that Taylor beats Jones on youth and punch output, not to mention that Jones is shaky in the chin department. It is an interesting fight, but one that I am not anxious to see because Jones isn't what he once was and Taylor is coming off of two losses.
All that said, this is one I'll believe when the two are in the ring.
Showing posts with label Jermain Taylor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jermain Taylor. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
Pavlik Wins Again
The Pavlik-Taylor fight on Saturday was entertaining and an overall good fight, but not a fight of the year contender, unless 2008 turns out to be a terrible year for boxing. Off TV, I scored the fight for Pavlik 118-110 giving Kelly virtually every close round. I gave Pavlik Rounds 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11 and 12, and Taylor only 2 and 10. I acknowledge that this card might be a round or two wide in favor of Pavlik, but I was not impressed by Taylor's bursts that came all too infrequently. To his credit, Taylor fought a more strategic fight and would have done better had be pumped the jab the entire fight like Pavlik did. Most of the writers cards I have seen had Pavlik winning by two to four points, with Steve Kim, Dan Rafael and Tom Hauser scoring it even. I will watch the fight a second time and see if I give Taylor more rounds.
One thing that struck me in the post fight write ups is that the coverage seems to be focused on Taylor as opposed to the winner Pavlik. Jermain fought a solid fight and didn't get knocked out like in the first fight, but he did not do enough to win and his lack of lateral movement, steady consistent jab and occasional looping punches are what cost him the fight. As I noted in a question posted in Doug Fisher's Monday Mail Bag, Pavlik was predictable, throwing a double jab and straight right throughout the entire fight. Before the second Erik Morales fight, this is what Manny Pacquiao did and won not because he was consistent, but because he has blazing speed and KO power. Pavlik only has the power. Doug agreed that Kelly needs to expand his game against tougher opposition. If Taylor isn't that tougher opposition, then why all the praise in a losing effort?
There was talk about a third fight between the two down the road, but I see no reason. Kelly has been there, done that and unless Jermain can beat top opposition at 168 (not Jeff Lacy, Sakio Bika, Librado Andrade) I see no reason to do it again. After a long rest and a tune up type of fight, I want to see Taylor in with Kessler, whose jab will be even tougher for him to overcome than Pavlik's, but who is susceptible to speed, which Taylor has.
One thing that struck me in the post fight write ups is that the coverage seems to be focused on Taylor as opposed to the winner Pavlik. Jermain fought a solid fight and didn't get knocked out like in the first fight, but he did not do enough to win and his lack of lateral movement, steady consistent jab and occasional looping punches are what cost him the fight. As I noted in a question posted in Doug Fisher's Monday Mail Bag, Pavlik was predictable, throwing a double jab and straight right throughout the entire fight. Before the second Erik Morales fight, this is what Manny Pacquiao did and won not because he was consistent, but because he has blazing speed and KO power. Pavlik only has the power. Doug agreed that Kelly needs to expand his game against tougher opposition. If Taylor isn't that tougher opposition, then why all the praise in a losing effort?
There was talk about a third fight between the two down the road, but I see no reason. Kelly has been there, done that and unless Jermain can beat top opposition at 168 (not Jeff Lacy, Sakio Bika, Librado Andrade) I see no reason to do it again. After a long rest and a tune up type of fight, I want to see Taylor in with Kessler, whose jab will be even tougher for him to overcome than Pavlik's, but who is susceptible to speed, which Taylor has.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Notes on the Weekend
Pavlik v. Taylor II is finally upon us. I fully expect this fight to be no different than the first, with the exception that I don't think Kelly will get knocked down and almost out. No matter how many times they fight, Jermain will always be the quicker fighter and better overall athlete, but this is boxing, not track and field. Pavlik is a better technician, more skilled overall fighter who doesn't have Taylor's flaws, namely the tendency to drop his left hand the entire fight, to go against the ropes and to loop his punches.
This fight is a huge fight for Lou DiBella, Taylor's promoter, as Taylor is his only real money maker at the moment. Andre Berto is not quite there yet, despite having an HBO contract. Mr. DiBella also promotes title holders Carlos Quintana and Paulie Malignaggi.
Another angle to this fight, albeit one that only interests me because I am an attorney, is that both Bob Arum and Lou DiBella are Harvard Law grads, obviously years apart. Mr. Arum I believe graduated and then went to work at the Department of Justice under Robert F. Kennedy, while DiBella worked at the elite firm of Sullivan & Cromwell (#3 ranked firm according to Vault).
Switching gears to the other "major" fight this weekend if you can call it that, Sergey Liakhovich faces Nikolai Valuev. I don't expect this fight to be entertaining in the slightest. Liakovich had a great night when he beat then WBO titlest Lamon Brewster. Since then neither fighter has won a fight. Before the Brewster fight Liakhovich wasn't much of a prospect either. The most interesting thing about this fight is that Liakhovich weighed in at over 250 pounds (about 10 lbs. heavier than he has ever fought at) and doesn't look like a fighter, but rather a whale. I'll go with Valuev just because he is so damn big and can be hard to hit.
This fight is a huge fight for Lou DiBella, Taylor's promoter, as Taylor is his only real money maker at the moment. Andre Berto is not quite there yet, despite having an HBO contract. Mr. DiBella also promotes title holders Carlos Quintana and Paulie Malignaggi.
Another angle to this fight, albeit one that only interests me because I am an attorney, is that both Bob Arum and Lou DiBella are Harvard Law grads, obviously years apart. Mr. Arum I believe graduated and then went to work at the Department of Justice under Robert F. Kennedy, while DiBella worked at the elite firm of Sullivan & Cromwell (#3 ranked firm according to Vault).
Switching gears to the other "major" fight this weekend if you can call it that, Sergey Liakhovich faces Nikolai Valuev. I don't expect this fight to be entertaining in the slightest. Liakovich had a great night when he beat then WBO titlest Lamon Brewster. Since then neither fighter has won a fight. Before the Brewster fight Liakhovich wasn't much of a prospect either. The most interesting thing about this fight is that Liakhovich weighed in at over 250 pounds (about 10 lbs. heavier than he has ever fought at) and doesn't look like a fighter, but rather a whale. I'll go with Valuev just because he is so damn big and can be hard to hit.
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