Pavlik knocks out Taylor!
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 in big trouble. Pavlik barely
managed to survive a very rocky round, but somehow regrouped
and had a good round three. After several rounds of excellent
two-way action, Pavlik landed a big right hand in round seven and
his follow up attack sank Taylor to the canvas in Pavlik's corner.
Referee Steve Smoger stopped it at 2:14. At the time of the stop,
Taylor was far ahead on all three official cards by scores of 58-
55, 59-54, 58-55. There is a rematch clause in the contract, so
Pavlik-Taylor II might not be far off. boxnews.com.ua