LAS VEGAS — Kelly Pavlik is no one-hit wonder. With tactics instead of theatrics, he found another way to beat Jermain Taylor.
The knockout artist from Youngstown, Ohio, stayed patient and proficient Saturday night to beat Taylor for the second time in 4-1/2 months, winning a unanimous decision to remain unbeaten.
Pavlik (33-0, 29 KOs) failed to knock out his opponent for the first time in his past 10 fights, but he threw far more punches and landed more memorable exchanges than Taylor (27-2-1), who came up just short on all three judges’ scorecards despite a markedly improved performance after getting his first career loss in their initial bout.
“We both did a better job tonight than the first fight,” Pavlik said. “The key was inside pressure. My fight strategy was to put the pressure on him, back him up. My jab and punches landed more this time. Nothing will top the first victory over Jermain, but it was a great win tonight.”
Pavlik stunned Taylor with a seventh-round knockout victory in Atlantic City, N.J., last year. Pavlik’s belt wasn’t at stake this time, with both fighters agreeing to a rematch at a catch weight of 166 pounds — six pounds above the middleweight limit.
Judge Dave Moretti favored Pavlik 117-111 in the rematch, while Patricia Morse-Jarman had it 115-113 and Glenn Trowbridge scored it 116-112.
Valuev wins WBA bout
The 7-foot Russian, in one of his best boxing performances, effectively used his left jab from the opening seconds to subdue the smaller fighter in the WBA eliminator bout.
