BERT SUGAR'S PRE-FIGHT ANALYSIS

by Bert Sugar

STRENGTHS OF BOTH FIGHTERS

JERMAIN TAYLOR

- Possesses an excellent jab and a classic one-two.
- Has fast hand speed, faster than Pavlik.
- Bigger and stronger than Pavlik.
- Is consistent and deliberate throughout fight.

KELLY PAVLIK

- Has one-punch knockout power in both hands, which he throws with leverage.
- Is dangerous from both outside and inside.
- Uses his long left to set up his powerful right--but also possesses a powerful left hook and a 'sneaky' left uppercut.
- Has solid "chin whiskers," as he proved against Edison Miranda.

WEAKNESSES OF BOTH FIGHTERS

TAYLOR

- Can be outworked.
- Has been reluctant to left hands "Go," to the point where, in the fight against Corey Spinks, trainer Emanuel Steward was heard to holler "Just get out there and fight."
- Doesn't have one-punch knockout power.
- Allows himself to get caught on the ropes--as he did in the fights with Winky Wright and Kassim Ouma, neither of whom had the power of Pavlik.

PAVLIK

- Becomes overconfident of his ability to take punches and walks straight in on his opponents.
- Admits to being "lackadaisical" during previous fights, something he can't afford to do with Taylor.
- Even with 31 fights, Pavlik doesn't have the "big fight" experience of Taylor.

WHAT EACH MUST DO TO WIN

TAYLOR
- Cannot let Pavlik dictate the pace of the fight but must take the initiative.
- Must outwork Pavlik.
- Must stay off the ropes, keeping the action in the center of the ring.
- Cannot afford to get into a slugging contest with the more powerful Pavlik.

PAVLIK
- Must force the action, using looong left to force Taylor backwards and into the ropes.
- Cannot let Taylor outwork him.
- Although confident of his ability to "take punches," he cannot afford to just walk in on Taylor and absorb too many.

Bert Sugar's forthcoming book "My View from the Corner" with Angelo Dundee and foreword by Muhammad Ali will be out in October.