The spirit of Diego “Chico” Corrales was alive and well last night. He showed up for the Edison Miranda vs. Kelly Pavlik fight and left immediately after Pavlik stopped Miranda. As was mentioned several times last night, this was the real main event, and it was a real one. Pavlik has placed himself in line for a title shot against Jermaine Taylor. If Taylor weasels his way out of a fight with Pavlik he should be stripped of his title. Pavlik received his number one position the old fashioned way, he earned it. Sure Taylor needs to secure his finances, but he has an obligation to the fight game and to the fans who pay his wages. He has yet to prove he is a true middleweight champion and if he avoids Pavlik he can say goodbye to the big paydays, and rightly so. I will not be making any contributions.Pavlik was ferocious as he wore down and completely took apart Miranda in an amazing battle of attrition. Miranda for his part fought with heart but seemed to be confused by Pavlik’s aggression and at times seemed to be fighting in a fog. He landed several hard right hands on Pavlik that, except on one occasion, never really seemed to effect Pavlik. Pavlik did exactly what he said he would do, take Miranda out of his game by backing him up. Pavlik knocked him down twice in the sixth and the fight should have been stopped after the first knockdown. Referee Steve Smoger gave Miranda just a little too much time when Miranda spit out his mouth piece after the first knockdown. He rightly took a point away, though points never really factored in on this fight. Pavlik stopped Miranda 1:54 of the seventh round.
Perhaps if the ten count salute for Corrales had taken place before the main event between Jermaine Taylor and Cory “Dancing with the stars” Spinks (I‘m trying to keep a straight face here), Corrales would have given it his blessings. Taylor found
himself in a somewhat similar position as Oscar De La Hoya a few weeks ago, fighting an opponent that chose not to fight. It’s always hard to look good, even in winning against these guys. Spinks borrowed several pages from the game plan of Floyd Mayweather Jr., not to mention Pernell Whitaker, Carl Lewis and Jesse Owens. To Taylor’s credit he did try to make a fight out of it. Taylor won by split decision.
4 comments:
I guess the bigger guy physically-Taylor-sorta won.And I'll be shocked if he goes into the Pavlik fight as the favorite.
Taylor might have to change his style and throw a lot more punches if he fights Pavlik. If they would have fought each other Saturday night, we might have a new middlweight champs. Thats my guess anyway.
I don't know what to make of Taylor.After beating an old Hopkins on two close decisions,he's been sticking to guys moving up in weight;I think Winky Wright would've stopped him if he were a puncher. Then there's the issue of switching trainers;In his case I don't see where Emanuel Steward has improved him.In the little I saw of him before,I thought he used his height and jab better.
I think Taylor is one of those guys that do just enough to win and that's it. It seems to be part of his make up. He'll be pushed to the limit by Pavlik!
Post a Comment