BY MARCUS HENRY
No more excuses. Jermain Taylor (27-1-1, 17 KOs) blamed his loss to Kelly Pavlik (32-0, 29 KOs) on September 29, at least in part, on his struggle to make 160 pounds. As a result the two will hook up on February 16 at the MGM Grand at 166 pounds.
Pavlik, who scored a seventh-round TKO over Taylor, called it a "mistake" for him to take the fight at 166 pounds. Although I agree with Pavlik, he can't go into this fight thinking Taylor will make the same mistakes he did the last time.
"I don't see too much of a difference," Pavlik told the Vindicator. "He's going to come fight the same way and I'm going to fight the same way I did."
It's that type of thinking that could get Pavlik into trouble. Taylor has a penchant for fighting ugly, but that style has gotten him wins over Bernard Hopkins (twice), Cory Spinks, Kassim Ouma and Winky Wright.
Taylor will certainly make the proper adjustments. The question is will Pavlik be able to counter.