Pavlik vs. Taylor

I was hammered the last time Kelly Pavlik and Jermaine Taylor battled. Boxing is maybe the greatest drunken spectator sport in the world. All I remember is having 400 down on Taylor because Pavlik was still a relative nobody outside of boxing circles...far from a household name at the very least.

As Taylor came out, and got the early knockdown on the Ohio State color-wearing Pavlik, I kept puffing my macanudo, slamming Miller Lite, and talking shit about the color of Pavlik's skin. "Knock that white mother fucker out!" Yeah...I am also a caucasian, but there are few words that accurately describe the hatred I feel towards someone once I see them wearing the scarlet and gray (I mean, look at those shorts, he has the damn Ohio State logo on that shit!).

In all honestly though, watching HBO's "Countdown to Pavlik vs. Taylor II," Kelly seems like the more likable guy of the two. I can absolutely identify with his Mom not being able to watch him fight, since my Mom could never even watch her kids play sports because she got too nervous. Imagine if I had dudes throwing punches at my face!?!?!?! Anyways, Pavlik is far from technically brilliant, he's a fighter, and if the old cliche is styles make fights, we saw it in September, and we'll see it even more Saturday night now that Taylor knows exactly what's in store for him. Taylor has nothing to gain by taking the air out of the arena and fighting Pavlik conservatively, and I don't think Pavlik will let him.

Hopefully for everyone viewing, it doesn't turn into a jab-fest with few chances taken by the fighters. I can't imagine Taylor will do that though, he has too much to gain, and really nothing to lose. This is a career-making, career-sustaining fight for Taylor, and he can't sit back and let the fight come to him like he did after he knocked down Pavlik in September. Pavlik's Buckeye arrogance can get the best of him, and I think it will. Taylor will win this fight because frankly, I think it's an even fight, but Taylor's back is against the wall, and I love fighters in that position.