28.09.07 – By Vivek Wallace: Jermain Taylor (27-0-1, 17KO’s) has been arguably one of the most pleasant surprises in the sport of boxing. For years, Bernard ‘The Executioner’ Hopkins stood firm as the middleweight divisions ‘immovable’ object. To date, the only man in the last 14 years to not only challenge Hopkins, but in the eyes of most, soundly defeat him, is the former bronze medalist known as “Bad Intentions”. Most love him, some still question him, but skimming over his past 5 fights is perhaps the ‘tell all’ when it comes to deciphering the heart of Taylor..
In an era where most fighters take ‘cupcake’ matches between grueling affairs, Taylor went to battle twice with arguably the sports best recent undisputed Champion – Bernard Hopkins, followed by arguably the sports best defender who also boast a stiff jab – Ronald ‘Winky’ Wright, followed by the gritty but somewhat undersized middleweight Kassim Ouma, and the streak culminated against a very slick, yet also undersized Cory Spinks.
Going down such a treacherous path displayed Taylors heart, obviously, but as he prepares for his next fight, it’s quite easy to realize that it’ll take more than heart to have his hand raised when this contest is over. On Saturday, September 29th, in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Jermain Taylor will face a somewhat unknown commodity who is more than primed and far beyond supplied to do the impossible.
Even strong supporters of Jermain Taylor have to wonder what is a guy who went to a split decision with Cory Spinks – a fighter not known for a chin of granite – gonna do against a guy who made the heavily durable Edison Miranda flat out quit? The truth to the matter is the fact that as talented as Taylor is, he hasn’t knocked an opponent out since 2005, and even that contender was a question mark, considering that he had only fought 18 times.
Kelly Pavlik (31-0, 28KO’s), known to most as the ‘Ghost’, could not have been dubbed with a more applicable name, as even those who’ve never seen him seem to be very aware of the gruesome ‘legends’ associated with his name. The jolting knockouts. The feverish passion to pound away at an opponent until the agony of pain agrees with the pain itself of defeat. In 31 pro fights, only three men have found the formula necessary to avoid the patented Pavlik ‘star gaze’ position. The other 28’s fate was not so kind, finding themselves lying flat, staring at the ceiling of an arena gone wild after an onslaught of blows ended the show.
How this fight plays out is beyond me, but I will go on record saying that if there is a man out there who can defeat Taylor, it’s Pavlik. One thing we do know is that Taylor’s trainer – Emmanuel Steward – and no one else will put any money on Stewards off beat prediction of a Taylor knockout. There are many ways this fight can play out, but none come close to that theory. If Taylor can somehow endure the thrashing he’s gonna undoubtedly take and find a way to use the jab he has somewhat abandoned to keep Pavlik at bay, he may net a close decision.
However, conventional wisdom tells me that when you consider the fact that Pavlik is simply a very busy fighter, combined with the fact that Taylor is powerful but probably not enough to hurt Pavlik, Kelly’s work rate will give him a decision, or possible knockout, that few ever saw coming prior to the fight. I’ll stop short of saying that’s my prediction, but I will clearly say that that’s a vision seen in the mind of me and quietly many others. Nothing tangible, but the fear factor associated with certain phenomenons typically aren’t. Maybe that’s why they call him ‘The Ghost’. For Taylor, Saturday could be the proverbial “Friday the 13th walking down Elm Street”. This is no horror flick, but for my readers I do have one question…..”DO YOU BELIEVE IN THE GHOST”?
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