Once again, HipHopDX is bringing you live coverage of the epic battle between Jermain “Bad Intentions” Taylor and Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik. Tune in for the main event beginning at 8:30pm PST/11:30pm EST. In the meanwhile, DX will keep you up to date with the explosive undercards.
Can Taylor get revenge after being viciously knocked out less than 5 months ago or will Pavlik maintain his dominance in brutal fashion over Taylor?
Expectations are high and DX will be the ONLY website that will give you live coverage ringside from the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas NV!
(6:40pm) There is a definite Youngstown Ohio crowd here to back Kelly Pavlik. It may not be Mayweather Vs Hatton but the atmosphere here is electric as fans begin to file into the MGM. The Youngstown attendees make themselves known as Pavlik‘s entrance into the arena flashes across the screens inside the arena. Ronald Hearns (Tommy “Hitman” Hearns‘ son) finally disposes of Justin Astorga in the 8th round but many of us ringside are concerned about his ability to “close the show” as Hearns had multiple opportunities but didn’t pull the trigger. It’s time for the Bantamweights to make their way into the ring. Cristian Mijares is accompanied by a man in a luche libre mask. Got a few chuckles out of the fans.
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(7:05pm) Mijares & Navarro are battling it out in front of a pretty distinct Hispanic contingency. Speaking of Hispanics, the great Julio Cesar Chavez is seated just a few rows in front of me. Something interesting I just noticed is all the Hip Hop being played between rounds. You would swear that 50 Cent was battling Fat Joe tonight. And they just played LL Cool J‘s “Boomin System” after round 4. I guess that’s what happens when American Gangster is your sponsor. Even more hilarious was when they played USDA’s “White Girl” when the lone white ring girl was doing her in between rounds walk.
(7:36pm) Who the hell is the DJ? Somebody is playing some jams at the fight. Pharcyde’s “Runnin” just proceeded the 12th round but Mijares and Navarro are doing anything but running from each other. This fight is a brilliant war of attrition as neither seems to back down and is completely devoid from a lull of action. Whoever wins will have definitely earned it.
(7:37pm) Who the hell was judging the Mijares vs Navarro fight??? When a fight seems to be as close as this one was, it is absolutely bewildering that a judge scored the fight a 120 – 108 shutout for Navarro. Most of us at ringside had it 115 – 113 either for Mijares or Navarro but a shutout? Amazing! Someone must look into this scoring atrocity.
(7:55 pm) Fernando Montiel is putting on a display of being economic with his punches as it seems that each and every punch he throws in landing squarely on the chin of Castillo. It’s as if Castillo is enjoying being outclassed by Montiel. Oh and a big shout out to Judge Doug Tucker who scored the Navarro/Mijares fight as a shutout for Navarro. It’ll probably be the last judging gig he gets for quite some time.
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(8:04pm) Fernando Montiel put on a brutal display of accuracy and punching power as he completely deflated Martin Castillo with a vicious assault that lead to a 4th round KO. Lots of action that Taylor and Pavlik have to live up to.
(8:14pm) It is absolutely electric here at the MGM as a pro –Pavlik crowd begins their “Kelly, Kelly” chants. It’s a pretty star studded event as Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Vince Vaughn, Roy Jones Jr, Tommy Hearns, Mario Lopez and others are all scattered in the arena. The main event is next as Jermain Taylor enters to One Republic‘s “Apologize.” We shall see what he’s apologizing for shortly…
Undercards:
Ronald Hearns defeated Justin Astorga via 8th round TKO
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Cristian Mijares defeated Jose Navarro via split decision (Mijares retains WBC Jr. Bantamweight belt)
Fernando Montiel defeated Martin Castillo via 4th round KO (Montiel retains WBO Super Flyweight belt)
Kelly Pavlik defeated Jermain Taylor via unanimous decision
Andreas Hale’s Unofficial Scorecard
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 total
Taylor 9-10-10-9 -9-10-10-9-10 -10 -9 – 9 114
Pavlik 10 -9 -9-10-10-9 -9-10 -9 – 9 -10 -10 114
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Rd 1: Taylor starts out cautiously throwing the jab. Definitely as reckless as the first fight. Both seem to respect each other until Taylor landss a hard left to the had of Pavlik. Taylor is landing the jab early and follows with a solid uppercut. The hand speed of Taylor is evident early. Nice body shot by Pavlik as he follows with a hard right to the head of Taylor. Pavlik lands a heavy right to the head of Taylor and staggers the challenger! Taylor comes back with a stiff left jab. There is nothing but action early. The two exchange blows as the round comes to a close.
Rd 2: The 2nd round begins with the two looking for openings. Pavlik has the heavier hands and it is showing. Jermain is going to have to establish the jab and hope to wear Pavlik down. Pavlik backs Taylor up with a one two combination to the head but Taylor comes back with another stiff jab. Pavlik is pressing forward as he continues to try to find range for that right hand. Taylor lands a hard right but Pavlik walks right through it. The beard of Pavlik is clearly established but Taylor continues to land. Someone is going to have to go to the body to win this fight. That person would probably have to be Taylor.
Rd 3: Pavlik’s ring generalship may have won him the first two rounds as the third round sees more of Pavlik coming forward. Taylor is trying his best to fight the game Pavlik off of him. Neither has an advantage early in this round. Taylor finally lands a nice combination followed by a looping right hand. Taylor follows a jab with a brilliantly placed lead right that lands squarely on Pavlik’s chin. When the fight is at a more disciplined pace, Taylor seems to hold an advantage. Definitely Taylor’s best round.
Rd 4: It seems that Pavlik’s jab is not nearly as effective as it was in their first meeting. Pavlik throws four punches but gets caught with a counter right from Taylor. Pavlik lands a nice lead right. Finally the fighters understand that the body needs to be taken out. Pavlik is landing a bit more and seems to be finding his range. They exchange hard jabs but Pavlik seems to be the aggressor in round four. Taylor opens up and hits Pavlik with a beautiful three punch combination that may have won him the round. Pavlik closes the round with a two punch combo.
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Rd 5: Most of us at ringside have it even at this point with both game plans seeming to work. Taylor has done a great job so far of coming over Pavlik’s jab with a right hand. Pavlik lands a couple of clean punches that seem to momentarily stun Taylor. Taylor lands another overhand right that knocks Pavlik dry. The ebb and flow in this fight is amazing. Pavlik lands a fantastic left to the body and follows with a lead right. Pavlik is having a great round 5 as he seems to be slowly wearing down Taylor with the thudding punches. Taylor closes the round with a another two punch combination.
Rd 6: The rounds seem to be flying by in this hotly contested battle. Pavlik is now targeting the body of Taylor. Taylor lands a thudding hook to Pavlik’s body. A much slower paced round than the previous five. Taylor lands an excellent counter right that sees sweat flying off the head of Pavlik. The best punch of the round. Two thudding hooks to the body have Pavlik wincing. Yet another right hand lands hard to the head of Pavlik but The Ghost seems to take them well.. Pavlik walks into yet another stiff Taylor jab as it seems that Taylor owned the last half of this round. This is a helluva fight!
Rd 7: Where is the double jab from Pavlik that treated him so well in the first fight? While Pavlik is throwing a higher volume of punches, it seems like the crisper punches belong to Taylor. Taylor snaps Pavlik’s head back with another jab. It’s almost becoming routine for Taylor to land 5-7 jabs per round with efficiency. Pavlik continues to chase Taylor around the ring but is landing nothing clean. This seems to be a tough round to judge because of the amount of punches Pavlik is throwing. Pavlik finally lands a right hand but a flurry by Taylor may have given him the round.
Rd 8: Pavlik chases Taylor around and throws multiple punches hoping to find an opening. It hasn’t happened yet as Taylor launches a left hook to the head of Pavlik. Pavlik is inching closer to Taylor but can’t land that punch that could change the fight. Taylor yet again fights Pavlik off of hims with a right left combination. The war of jabs continues to be won by Taylor but once again it seems as if Taylor is just trying to keep Pavlik off of him. Pavlik gets close and Taylor unloads on him again to stop him in his tracks.
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Rd 9: Most didn’t think the fight would get this far as each are landing heaavy blows that an average fighter would have succumbed to long ago. Pavlik must figure out that Taylor is trying to steal rounds in the last 10 seconds (and is doing a damn good job of it). Pavlik walks into another stiff jab that buckles his knees briefly. Taylor is in much better shape this time around and lands a double hook to Pavlik’s head. But just as soon as it seems to be a Taylor rouund, Pavlik comes right back. Another round edged out by Taylor.
Rd 10: Championship rounds! Taylor may think he’s behind and is on the attack early. While I have Taylor up one round others have Pavlik up two. I couldn’t argue either way. Very close fight with neither establishing dominance. Taylor finally lands the best three punch combination of the fight. A minute left to go and nothing much going on here in terms of landing punches. Lots thrown but nothing too much for Pavlik.
Rd 11: With the fight this close, neither should be comfortable coming into these last two rounds. Taylor lands three left hands go to Pavlik’s midsection. Taylor lands another one two combination. Another double hook to Pavlik’s body.Taylor’s attack to the body is vicious here in round 11. Pavlik stuns Taylor to close the round as Taylor walks back with shaky legs.
Rd 12: Pavlik lands early with an uppercut that jolts Taylor’s head back. Taylor comes back firing but Pavlik’s edge in power is beginning to show. Is it too little too late? Pavlik still coming on strong and landing right hands to Taylor’s head and body. They both exchange heated blows as they try to close the show. Pavlik stuns Taylor again with a right hand. Taylro tries to flurry to close out the fight. Amazing!
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The judges scorecards are in and Pavlik wins by unanimous decision!
