Saturday, February 16, Kelly Pavlik won a unanimous decision over Jermain Taylor at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
From Ringside
In front of a highly charged, not-quite-capacity crowd at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada, Kelly Pavlik remained undefeated by winning a unanimous decision over Jermain Taylor. The three judges at ringside scored the fight 117-111,115-113, and116-112. Suite 101 had it 116-114 for Pavlik. The fight was televised on HBO Pay Per View.
Pavlik remained undefeated, though hardly unscathed, as he pressured Jermain Taylor for 12 rounds only to get cracked with Taylor's effective counters throughout the night.
Taylor lead off the first round winging hard left hooks, but eventually settled into a style that befuddled Pavlik, although Pavlik's greater strength allowed him to bull forward and land his signature jabs and jab/right hands.
In the early to middle rounds, Taylor consistently caught Pavlik with counter rights over Pavlik's left jabs and hooks. Another testament to Taylor's much improved strategy over that of their first fight was Taylor's ability to stay off of the ropes--the place the got him in so much trouble in their last fight, i.e., a seventh round knock out.
The last half of the fight swung back in Pavlik's favor as Taylor's punch output dropped and he, at times, resorted to bursts after the ten second warning in an effort to steal rounds.
Pavlik landed a bodyshot late in the 11th that nearly doubled Taylor over. Both fighters pressed the action in round twelve, but it was Pavlik who seemed to have fresher legs. It was the first time Pavlik had ever been 12 rounds. Super middleweights. (Pavlik's middleweight title was not on the line).
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