News - Jermain Taylor

Former undisputed middleweight champion Jermain Taylor, the man who finally toppled the lengthy reign of Bernard “the Executioner” Hopkins, can’t wait for his highly anticipated rematch with Kelly “the Ghost” Pavlik – the man who smeared his perfect record with a seventh-round knockout last year. He vows that the February 16th rematch held in Las Vegas, Nevada, will be much different: “If I get him in that position again read more ...

Kelly Pavlik was 9 years old, just a pup, when he walked into the Southside Boxing Club in Youngstown for the very first time. The first person he met was Harry Arroyo, former world champion from Youngstown. Coming over to greet Kelly was trainer Jack Loew. "Who do we have here?" asked Jack, looking down at Kelly. "I want to be a fighter," Kelly said read more ...

WBC/WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik met the New York City press today to officially announce his February 16th clash with Jermain Taylor at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The bout will be a non-title rematch at a catchweight of 166 lbs. "I'll still go into the fight like a title is on the line," said Pavlik. "That zero on my record has been there a long time and I want to keep it there read more ...

Trainer Ozell Nelson will assume the head trainer duties for former middleweight champion Jermain Taylor, replacing Hall of Famer Emanuel Steward. Nelson was Taylor's amateur coach and was a key camp member throughout Taylor's career. "Manny is a great coach, a Hall of Famer," Nelson told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. "I very much respect Emanuel Steward. But I feel like things were going real read more ...

"Kelly sustained three superficial lacerations to the right forearm and hand and also three superficial lacerations to the left forearm and hand. He also had numerous superficial abrasions. The wounds were explored and there was no evidence of tendon damage or tendon involvement on any of the lacerations. The six lacerations were repaired with sutures in the office," said Sandy P. Naples, M.D. of Poland Family Practice read more ...

According to a recent interview with Top Rank president Bob Arum, if WBC/WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik (32-0, 29KOs) wins his rematch with Jermain Taylor (27-1-1, 17KOs), the next target would be a pay-per-view showdown with Bernard Hopkins (48-4-1, 32KOs) in June. Arum told Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports that the original plan was to match Pavlik with undefeated John Duddy in January and then do a read more ...

"This was just another fight where I showed my heart," said newly crowned WBC/WBO middleweight champion Kelley Pavlik in the postfight press conference after his impressive seventh round KO of Jermain Taylor. "He came to fight. He has hand speed and a punch." Regarding a rematch, Pavlik said, "If Jermain wants it. I'm ready." Taylor stated, "I definitely want a rematch. I think Kelly's a great fighter and I would love another read more ...

Unbeaten middleweight Kelly Pavlik (32-0, 29 KOs) scored an incredible seventh round knockout of previously unbeaten reigning champion Jermain Taylor (27-1-1, 17 KOs) to claim the WBC/WBO middleweight championship on Saturday night at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. Both fighters came out and traded bombs in a great round one. Taylor floored Pavlik in round two after a violent barrage and had Pavlik read more ...

Even though WBC/WBO middleweight champion Jermain Taylor has gone the twelve round distance in five consecutive fights, Taylor's trainer Emmanuel Steward says Taylor will knock out Kelly Pavlik when they face off on Saturday in Atlantic City. "It's going to be a tough fight -- for about one round," Steward said at a Wednesday press conference in New York City. "Jermain Taylor will knock out Kelly Pavlik read more ...

The champion acknowledges that Pavlik – whom he defeated in the amateur ranks years ago in a fight he can’t recall – is “strong” and “game” but doesn’t believe he possesses the skills, speed and tools to deal with his arsenal. He relishes the opportunity to face a fighter “who comes to fight”, obviously contrasting Pavlik with his last challenger, the evasive Cory read more ...