Pavlik easily dispatches Espino.

[JayBee74]

Didn't see the fight (fan of Kelly, but I wasn't going to pay $40 for a sparring session), but it's interesting how Espino's handlers stopped the fight in the 5th, lauded Kelly and his punching power, but Espino claimed he wasn't impressed by Pavlik's power, and actually thought he hurt Pavlik despite going down twice himself and in the eyes of his corner not being able to continue. Delusional?

[pk500]

Re: Pavlik easily dispatches Espino.

Didn't see the fight (fan of Kelly, but I wasn't going to pay $40 for a sparring session), but it's interesting how Espino's handlers stopped the fight in the 5th, lauded Kelly and his punching power, but Espino claimed he wasn't impressed by Pavlik's power, and actually thought he hurt Pavlik despite going down twice himself and in the eyes of his corner not being able to continue. Delusional?

Bit of a misleading result. Espino came to fight and lured Kelly into an uncomfortable style, as this bout was fought in a phone booth. Espino showed large balls and heart.

Kelly ignored Jack Loew's advice to stay outside and use his stinging jab and strong right, instead engaging Espino on Espino's turf inside. Espino landed some very good shots. But Pavlik's body punching was VERY impressive, especially in the first three rounds.

Those body punches definitely softened up Espino for the knockdowns.

Still, Kelly wasn't that impressive other than his body punching and his uppercuts. He didn't work his jab enough to set up his big right hand.

Pavlik got sucked into the style of an inferior opponent and showed very little fighting at angles. That would have confused the hell out of Espino, who only knew forward and backward, and probably ended the fight even earlier.

This fight almost seemed like Kelly was telling the boxing world, "Screw you, I'm still here, and I can fight inside and in a true street fight."

Problem is, it was a street fight against an inferior opponent despite his No. 3 middleweight ranking. If Pavlik fought like that against a tougher opponent, he'd be in trouble.

Still, this was a very good action fight. It was not nearly as lopsided as the raw result indicated.

Take care,
PK

[JayBee74]

Re: Pavlik easily dispatches Espino.

Bit of a misleading result. Espino came to fight and lured Kelly into an uncomfortable style, as this bout was fought in a phone booth. Espino showed large balls and heart.

Kelly ignored Jack Loew's advice to stay outside and use his stinging jab and strong right, instead engaging Espino on Espino's turf inside. Espino landed some very good shots. But Pavlik's body punching was VERY impressive, especially in the first three rounds.

Those body punches definitely softened up Espino for the knockdowns.

Still, Kelly wasn't that impressive other than his body punching and his uppercuts. He didn't work his jab enough to set up his big right hand.

Pavlik got sucked into the style of an inferior opponent and showed very little fighting at angles. That would have confused the hell out of Espino, who only knew forward and backward, and probably ended the fight even earlier.

This fight almost seemed like Kelly was telling the boxing world, "Screw you, I'm still here, and I can fight inside and in a true street fight."

Problem is, it was a street fight against an inferior opponent despite his No. 3 middleweight ranking. If Pavlik fought like that against a tougher opponent, he'd be in trouble.

Still, this was a very good action fight. It was not nearly as lopsided as the raw result indicated.

Take care,
PK

Good analysis-thanks. Pavlik admitted it was a less than stellar outing. In an interview I just saw (taped immediately after the fight) Espino is more realistic and gracious saying that he was surprised that "Kelly being as strong as he is wasn't able to back me up". He said that made him confident until he started feeling Kelly's power in the third roiund.

[pk500]

Re: Pavlik easily dispatches Espino.

Espino's power was minimal. He hit Kelly with some pretty good shots, and Pavlik didn't even buckle.

Kelly has a good chin, but it can be dented. Just ask Jermain Taylor and Bernard Hopkins.

Take care,
PK

[JayBee74]

Re: Pavlik easily dispatches Espino.

Espino's power was minimal. He hit Kelly with some pretty good shots, and Pavlik didn't even buckle.

Kelly has a good chin, but it can be dented. Just ask Jermain Taylor and Bernard Hopkins.

Take care,
PK

Agree, although Hopkins mostly rattled Kelly and Jermain was able to get off a series of several punches.

[JT30]

Re: Pavlik easily dispatches Espino.

Don't forget, Kelly had a rough year. Staff infection and he only trained for about 4-5 weeks for this fight. Plus he has an alcohol abuse problem. Give him another 4 mos. or so and he will be back to his normal self

[pk500]

Re: Pavlik easily dispatches Espino.

Don't forget, Kelly had a rough year. Staff infection and he only trained for about 4-5 weeks for this fight. Plus he has an alcohol abuse problem. Give him another 4 mos. or so and he will be back to his normal self

I have serious doubts. He didn't look that good against Rubio before the staph infection. I think the loss to Hopkins really rattled him mentally. I question if he'll ever be the same.

Plus Pavlik benefits from a relatively weak middleweight division. Other than Sturm and Williams, who is in that class? Maybe Martinez could move up. Otherwise, all of the talent has moved up to 168 for the Super Six, and Bute also is in that division.

Take care,
PK

[JT30]

Re: Pavlik easily dispatches Espino.

Maybe... Kelly says he wants P Williams, but I think he will end up fighting Sturm first. Wasn't there also talk of Kelly replacing Taylor (I think it was) in the Super 6 now?

[pk500]

Re: Pavlik easily dispatches Espino.

Maybe... Kelly says he wants P Williams, but I think he will end up fighting Sturm first. Wasn't there also talk of Kelly replacing Taylor (I think it was) in the Super 6 now?

Taylor announced this week that he's staying in the Super 6, which caused Lou DiBella to resign as Taylor's promoter. DiBella knows what everyone but Jermain senses: Taylor is shot and is going to get seriously hurt if he continues to fight elite guys like the rest of the Super 6 field.

I think Bute would be a much better replacement than Pavlik in the Super 6. But Pavlik would be a more popular draw.

Take care,
PK

[JayBee74]

Re: Pavlik easily dispatches Espino.

Taylor announced this week that he's staying in the Super 6, which caused Lou DiBella to resign as Taylor's promoter. DiBella knows what everyone but Jermain senses: Taylor is shot and is going to get seriously hurt if he continues to fight elite guys like the rest of the Super 6 field.

I think Bute would be a much better replacement than Pavlik in the Super 6. But Pavlik would be a more popular draw.

Take care,
PK

Nobody is a "much better replacement" then Pavlik, but I'm not sure how he would stack up against these guys.

[pk500]

Re: Pavlik easily dispatches Espino.

Bute looked a hell of a lot better against Andrade two weeks ago than Pavlik did against either Rubio or Espino.

[JayBee74]

Re: Pavlik easily dispatches Espino.

Bute looked a hell of a lot better against Andrade two weeks ago than Pavlik did against either Rubio or Espino.

Missed the fight, but I'm sure he did. I'm just saying that either fighter would be a great addition to the Super Six. I have the ultimate respect for Lucian Bute and would like to see more of him.