Articles of 2007
Rematch, Rematch, Rematch, Rematch!
Everyone wants to see it. But first and foremost, let's let Kelly Pavlik and Jermain Taylor enjoy Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas before we have them lace the gloves up again, OK?
The middleweight title fight in Atlantic City, in which both fighters ate fistfuls of bombs, had casual fans talking the sweet science, and the last time that happened was Corrales/Castillo I (May 2005).
So, will the rematch happen?
Will we get a sequel for Christmas?
Or is Jermain Taylor done at 160 pounds?
Can he no longer make 160?
Will the pride of Youngstown and Bad Intentions face off again at a catch-weight of 166 pounds?
TSS called Taylor's promoter Lou Dibella, and inquired about the prospects for a rematch.
It turns out there is a rematch clause inserted in the contract for the fight, and Team Taylor and Dibella have 30 days to mull the prospect over, before they have to talk terms with Team Pavlik and Arum.
Dibella acknowledged that the rematch clause calls for another fight to be contested at 166 pounds, and that Taylor is likely headed to the super middleweight division, soon.
The NY-based promoter said that the Arkansas native made weight in reasonably comfortable fashion, and that there is a chance that Taylor and Pavlik could again fight for the middleweight title. But first, Dibella said, he's going to give Taylor a few more days to decompress, before he begins to help craft the next move.
“The rematch is an enormous fight,” Dibella said. “And I don't think fighting at 166 diminishes it at all. You're likely to see a rematch at over 160 pounds. I'd rather see it at 166 than not all.”
There is word that Arum would like Pavlik to take another fight before he steps in with Taylor again.
Would Dibella and Taylor agree to that?
Dibella wouldn't say, but historically, if a sum were paid to put off a rematch, and a fighter and his team can make a nice chunk without having to sweat a single droplet, well, that makes common sense.
Dibella did say he'd like Taylor to see a doctor and weight training (paging Dr. Shillstone) expert to get some insight into his stamina issues. The fighter admitted that he expended too much energy in trying to take out Pavlik in the second round, and was winded from the flurry.
“Taylor should've knocked Pavlik out in the second,” Dibella said. “He ran out of gas. He was way ahead on the scorecards, I don't care what Harold Lederman says. I did think Emanuel Steward gave him the worst corner instructions ever. All he had to do was push him over in the second. But it was a great fight.”
Dibella did say that he isn't in the dumps, contrary to those who theorize that he's depressed because his top client got knocked from the perch of undefeateds.
He can see the forest for the trees, he says, and comprehends that this fight was a shot of B-12 for the sport.
“I'm not depressed,” he said. “I'm proud of how my kid fought. We had a great fight, a great undercard, not on pay per view, I'm proud of that.”
If I'm playing promoter, I say give the kids time off, but let's not schedule any interim fights for anyone in the meantime. You saw that Pavlik is susceptible, chin-wise, and now so is Taylor. Don't take the chance on either of them getting knocked off, and detracting from the upside in the rematch. How's February sound to everyone?
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