The-middleweight showdown between undefeated fighters Jermain Taylor and Kelly Pavlik will be happening within the hour. We’ll be live blogging round by round updates of the action. This is the first of many exciting fights that will be taking place before the end of the year. More than anything I hope the fight turns out to be exciting, Taylor needs an impressive outing to shut the critics up.

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Round 1 – The fighters were a little testy with each other during the refs instructions. Taylor is busy, throwing frequent hard shots, occasionally connecting. Taylor is not respecting pavlik’s power, Pavlik hit taylor with a few good counter shots, the crowd loved it. I’m getting the impression that a brawl is gonna break out soon. Taylor controlled the first half, Pavlik closed it out… very close… I’m giving this one to taylor by a hair.. but it could easily be scored the other way.

Round 1 goes to taylor.

Round 2 - neither guy scored much during the first minute. Taylor released a barrage of punches, a vicious combo. Pavlik goes down! This could end in a hurry. Taylor is absolutely mauling him. Pavlik is struggling to stay on his feet. Pavlik was doing the Zab Judah crip walk for a minute. Taylor’s barrage has ended, he’s tired.. Pavlik is getting his legs back slowly, alot of clenching and holding. The bell rings, By the grace of god Pavlik makes it through round two… I have no idea how he pulled that off.

10-8 Round for Taylor

Round 3 – Pavlik comes out fast, scoring multiple overhand rights on Taylor. Jermain doesn’t seem to be hurt at all. With 90 seconds left in the round, no fighter has asserted themselves so far. Pavlik is the busier fighter, Pavlik scores big shots, he now has taylor on the ropes pounding away. Taylor responds with 3 hooks and backs Pavlik off. Taylor closes the round with a left hook.

Round goes to Pavlik.

Round 4 – Not alot of action in the first minute. Accidental low blow by taylor, he’s given a warning. The two exchange punches briefly in the corner. Neither fighter scored any damage, but Taylor lands the more effective shots.

Round goes to Taylor.

Round 5 – Action has slowed down considerably since the first two rounds. Each guy is picking his shots wisely. Taylor is working his left jabs and hook. Pavlik isn’t throwing alot of punches at all. The round has been slow for the most part, no significant damage sihed out by either guy. Pavlik is bleeding from the nose. Taylors left eye is moderately swollen. Taylor lands a hard right hook after the bell, the guys touch gloves to show no hard feelings.

Round goes to Taylor (Harold Lederman has the fight even at 47-47)

Round 6 – The guys trade hard shots. Pavlik seems to be more effective thusfar, this round has contained more boxing than brawling. Taylor scores a big hook with 30 seconds left. Pavlik was the busier boxer with the most shots..

Round goes to Pavlik

Round 7 – No significant punches landed in the first minute. Lederman has pavlik leading by one point, Larry Merchant has Taylor leading by one point. The guys are both flicking the jab, with not much success. One minute left in the round, no damage done by either guy. WOW.. Pavlik stuns taylor, pounds him down in the corner… Taylor crumbles from the barrage, referee stops the fight!!! Biggest upset of the year!

Pavlik Wins!!!

Post Fight Interviews - Jermain Taylor immediately left the ring after being knocked out, he wanted no part of the interview from Larry Merchant. Pavlik seemed gracious with his win. This victory was due 100% to Pavilk’s guts and balls, he showed a ton of resiliency.

Merchant just went backstage to interview Taylor. Taylor says he expended too much energy during the course of the fight and had nothing left in the end. He says Pavlik “has pretty good power”, despite being beaten to hell in the corner. Taylor also says he’d like a rematch immediately. Kudos to Taylor for not making excuses. Great fight…

Sportaphile’s Post Fight Analysis – Taylor was ahead on my card (as well as the judges) when he was TKO’d. This loss happened largely because of two factors.

1. Pavlik’s guts and heart
2. Taylor’s glaring inexperience

Taylor, for whatever reason did NOT take a knee when he was hurt. He backed into a corner and hunched over instead, this is normally something you see rookies do , I’m not sure why he just didn’t take a knee to compose himself. He forced the ref to stop the fight by not punching back. The fatigue and accumilation of punches seem to impair his judgement and cost him the victory.

Pre-Fight Live Blogging:

8:30pm – Kelly Pavlik just walked to the ring and was greeted by huge roars from the crowd. It’s clearly a pro-pavlik house tonight. Taylor is on his way to the ring as we speak, everyone is booing. His entrance song was Duffle Bag Boy by Playaz Circle

8:23pm – Jermain Taylor’s vignette just ended, Pavlik’s has just began… hopefully the ringwalks will be underway within 10 minutes.

8:10pm – Berto scores a TKO win in an impressive fashion, the referee and Estrada’s corner men simultaneously stopped the punishment. Taylor and Pavlik’s bout will be underway after post fight interviews and promo vignettes..

8:04pm – Round 10 is set to start. Estrada is taking a vicious pounding (pause).. Berto is extremely close to a late round stoppage

7:53pm – The undercard bout between Andre Berto and David Estrada is in round seven, Berto is the clear winner thusfar.. I’m hoping for an early stoppage so we can get to the good stuff.