Round By Round: Pavlik-Taylor 2

The lightweight undercards are finished and it's time for the main event. Both fighters have a lot on the line so it should be a high intensity fight at 166 pounds. If Taylor loses this fight it will be difficult for him to get another big money fight. On Pavlik's side, he must fight for the glory of his hometown of Youngstown, OH.

Both fighters look fresh and ready in their dressing rooms before their entrances. Jermain Taylor comes to the ring to Apologize by One Republic and Timbaland. An interesting but fitting choice in my opinion. Pavlik chooses a harder, metal song. The fighters are introduced and it's time for the second chapter of one of last year's best fights.

Rd 1:

Both fighters eye each other up in the first few seconds. Taylor throws the first punch and Pavlik throws straights back. The first round is he energy, both fighters are punching hard straights. Taylor swings for the fences and misses with a right hook. Pavlik lands a very hard right hook, Taylor does not look phases. Taylor answers back with another hard left. Both fighters slow down in the last 10 seconds.

Spartan117: 10-9 Pavlik
Uatu: 10-9 Pavlik

Rd 2:

Offense is clearly the number one priority for both fighters in these first 2 rounds. Taylor goes back to the jab and lands cleanly. Pavlik comes back with hard combinations to the head. Neither fighter is throwing much to the body. Pavlik's defense looks solid as he blocks a hard combo by Taylor. The crowd starts to chant "Kelly". Taylor lands a hard right hand, but Pavlik doesn't look hurt.

Spartan117: 10-9 Taylor
Uatu: 10-9 Taylor

Rd 3:

Pavlik comes out as the busier fighter in the 3rd. A bruise starting to swell over Taylor's left eye. Pavlik backs Taylor up with straight right hands, but Taylor remains on the offensive. Taylor begins to throw more, but Pavlik's defense absorbs much of the punishment. Taylor lands another hard right hand. Taylor catches Pavlik off balance and lands a right hook to the body. Taylor landing more punches in the end of the round.

Spartan117: 10-9 Taylor
Uatu: 10-9 Taylor

Rd 4:

Pavlik tries to set up the hard right hand with his jab. Taylor starts using solid upper body movement to evade Pavlik's punches. Taylor is attempting to stay in the middle of the ring and succeeds. Both fighters slow the punches down. Pavlik starts on the offensive and lands a jab and a right. Taylor catches Pavlik coming in with hard right straight. Pavlik comes right back and lands two shots to Taylor against the ropes.

Spartan117- 10-9 Pavlik
Uatu: 10-9 Pavlik

Rd 5:

Taylor throws a jab to the body and then to the head. Pavlik starts to back Taylor up and wants to get Taylor into the ropes. Taylor starts moving around the ring. Pavlik gets hit with with a right hook. Pavlik punches more when he has Taylor against the ropes. Pavlik knocks him back with a straight right. Blood starts pouring from Taylor's nose. Taylor goes back to the jab and connects.

Spartan117- 10-9 Taylor
Uatu: 10-9 Pavlik

Rd 6:

Neither fighter is wasting punches. Bother are choosing wisely. Taylor starts throwing hooks to the body. Taylor slows the punches down, but lands a hard right hand out of nowhere. Both fighters have solid defense. If they didn't this fight would already be over. Both Pavlik and Taylor continue to throw very hard punches.

Spartan117- 10-9 Taylor
Uatu: 10-9 Taylor

Rd 7:

Both fighters now landing solid jabs, but not landing the follow up blow. Taylor's punch output has dropped significantly is the fight progresses. Taylor works the body with hooks. Pavlik now the busier fighter tries to set up the right hand with jabs.

Spartan117: 10-9 Pavlik
Uatu: 10-9 Pavlik

Rd 8:

Pavlik continues to throw more punches than Taylor. Pavlik backs Taylor up with jabs but Taylor gets out of the ropes. Pavlik now looking for an opening. Taylor lands and left and right hook upstairs. Taylor starts throwing more but most are blocked. Taylor lands a big left to end the round.

Spartan117: 10-9 Taylor
Uatu: 10-9 Taylor

Rd 9:

Taylor landing his jab well. Pavlik comes back with his own. Pavlik continues to try to set up his power shot with his jab. Taylor is using more foot movement. Taylor lands a hard right. Both fighters are head hunting. Pavlik slips a right straight through the gloves of Taylor. Tavlik starts connecting with more straights. Many jabs land for both fighters in the last 30 seconds.

Spartan117: 10-9 Pavlik
Uatu: 10-9 Pavlik

Rd 10:

This is now the farthest that Pavlik has ever gone in a professional fight. Pavlik throws more rights now. Taylor starts throwing more total punches and connects. Pavlik clinches. Both fighters chins are clearly being tested. Pavlik throws a hook the puts him off balance. Taylor capitalizes with a hard right.

Spartan117: 10-9 Taylor
Uatu: 10-9 Taylor

Rd 11:

Pavlik's corner tells him that he needs the last two rounds and Pavlik comes out swinging. Taylor goes back to the body and lands two left hooks. Pavlik answers back with with a left and a right to the head. Taylor throws a rare uppercut that lands. Taylor comes out of a clinch and throws a hard hook upstairs. Taylor gets warned for a low blow. Taylor backed against the ropes but fights out.

Spartan117: 10-9 Taylor
Uatu: 10-9 Taylor

Rd 12:

Last round very difficult to score. Both fighters come out for the last round swinging for the fences. Both fighters land 2 vicious punches upstairs, but they both look good on their feet. Both fighters throwing very hard punches, now going for the knockout. Pavlik looks less tired. This round is very close. Pavlik lands a stiff jab. Taylor goes hard for the body and head. Pavlik blocks most. The fight ends and both fighters touch gloves as the bell rings.

Spartan117: 10-9 Pavlik
Uatu: 10-9 Pavlik

Spartan117: 115-113 Taylor
Uatu: 114-114 Draw

Judge 1: 117-111 Pavlik
Judge 2: 115-113 Pavlik
Judge 3: 116-112 Pavlik

Pavlik wins by unanimous decision

An incredible super middleweight fight with very high intensity and extremely hard punches.

Pavlik says in the post-fight interview that Taylor is very smart and thats why this fight was different from their first bout. Pavlik says that he will fight anybody he can.

Taylor thought he won the fight but admitted that it was close. Taylor says that he got tired in later rounds due to a hard body shot.