The left jab. If used correctly, it is still the most effective punch in boxing. Larry Holmes career was built off of it. Lennox Lewis protected his weak chin with it. Ali made Frazier eat 5-10 of them as the price of admission to throw his left hook. And it was the left jab that middleweight Kelly Pavlik rode to victory in his 12 round decision against Jermaine Taylor.
Kelly Pavlik is for Real. Not because he knocked out Taylor in his first fight, but because he didn’t in his second fight. We already knew that he had punching power. But this time he was forced to rely on boxing acumen against a skilled fighter. Enter Pavlik’s methodical left jab. Taylor — a solid champion in his own right — fought a much more disciplined fight the second time around and controlled the early going. For the first time in his career Pavlik heard the sound "Round 11" or "Round 12". But the fight went Pavlik’s way because it was Taylor, and not Pavlik who was fading in the last few rounds. In the end the fight was closer than the scorecards indicated. Even still, Pavlik showed that the first fight was no fluke.
Kelly Pavlik is Not for Real: Beware the new champion who wins his first two championship fights against the same opponent. Vernon Forrest owns Sugar Shane, but Mosely is still the better fighter. Ricardo Mayorga owns Forrest, but can’t beat any other top opponent (please, Fernando Vargas was washed up). Andrew Golota burst on the scene with a double-domination/disqualification against Riddick Bowe, but it has been downhill since. We all know that "styles make fights" and that some fighters simply have another fighter’s number. Is this the case with Pavlik-Taylor? If I have to choose, I would guess that Pavlik is for real supported by his impressive win over Edison Miranda. How Pavlik might do against more polished and "scientific" veterans like Winky Wright, Bernard Hopkins, or Joe Calzaghe remains to be seen — but the opportunity has been earned. And you can bet others will be negotiating with Pavlik. And you can bet that you know why.
Great White Hope? Will Pavlik help boxing? Well, on some degree I resent that I am even asking the question because the middleweight and lower divisions have been incredible the last few years. Great/solid middleweights and welterweights have included Hopkins, Wright, Taylor, Floyd Mayweather, Miguel Cotto, Paul Williams, De La Hoya, Sugar Shane, Antonio Margarito, Ricky Hatton, Kermit Cintron, and more. Career ending acts by Felix Trinidad, Vargas, Mayorga, and Arturo Gatti have also added excitement even if their skills were lacking or eroded. I’m not even including the lightweights as Manny Pacquiao might be my favorite fighter to watch and I’d pay to see Morales-Barrera 36 in a old-folks home if they set that fight up.
But Pavlik brings something new to the party that those fighters don’t. He is a white American boxer. And we need to be plain and just tell it like it is. I’ve read one too many articles about Pavlik’s "humble beginnings" and "blue collar roots" from Youngstown, Ohio. (note: Taylor is from Little Rock, Arkansas) It is time these writers just come out and say it: Pavlik is a white American boxer. And Pavlik is good. And there are few things more marketable than a good white American boxer. Sure, part of it is the novelty factor, but I suspect that more of it goes beyond mere novelty. So how will I feel if Pavlik raises interest in a sport that shouldn’t need him to raise interest. I don’t know. I’m still working through that one… but I’m inclined to take the trade-off. Besides the heavyweights, boxing is healthy across the other divisions and if Pavlik gets other fighters more attention (and more money), then I guess that I am for it. He has also earned a pay day or two for himself.
Boxing is about hurting your opponent. It’s not about who lands more punches. If that were the case, all you need to do is throw jabs and meaningless tap punches really fast to add up a meaningless punch count. The object is to hurt your opponent significantly, if possible. If it’s not possible, at the very least you must land punches that freeze an opponent, so as not to give him a chance to score. Pacquiao moved Marquez everytime he struck him. That’s boxing. That’s winning boxing, actually. Whenever Marquez came out of his shell to initiate an attack, Pacman was there to stun him. Marquez tried to win by countering. In the end, countering is only as effective as the power you have. If you don’t have the pop, the counters just serve as an annoyance to the heavy fisted fighter. Pacman was brilliant as usual. The man is simply a JOY to watch fight. Nobody wants to see tippy tap fighting. They want 2 guys who can bring and are willing to bring it. Since I missed the KD of Marquez, I would have to say at worst the fight was even after 4? Marquez didn’t win 4 of the last 8 rounds, IMO.
Wow a PR boxing fan hating on a Mexican, I’m suprised. LOL
Boxing is scored on more than just power of punching Jimmy.Its effective aggression, ring generalship, clean punching, and defense. I’d say Pac had the aggression down, but Marquez was the ring general. He landed the cleaner punches and he had the better defense for most rounds. But again, I can see how he won, he was very effective in the agression he showed and that is what some judges might have favored more. Either way a good fight.
Jimmy – Looks like Carlos and Paul are going to have a rematch on June 7. Wow. It is great to see top talent fighting each other.
DAVIDMAC- Not hating on Marquez, but ring generalship doesn’t overlap stronger punches. Once again, if landing “cleaner” punches is the key, everyone would be slap punching to death. The fact of the matter is Pacquiao landed the more telling and punishing blows. Marquez is a great fighter, but doesn’t have the pop to stand there with Pacquiao, so he needs to fight cautiously. That shouldn’t penalize Pacquiao, who is better served walking right at Marquez and pound him at will, therefore leaving him open to take some shots.
As for Williams and Quintana, that’s how boxing should work. The best fighting the best and then the rematch.
Hi. I know you wrote Kelly Pavlik Left-Jabs’ Jermaine Taylor to Victory, but is Pavlik really as good as the media makes him out to be?
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