Pavlik Knocks out Taylor! (10/1/07)
From Fighnews.com [9/29/07]
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.
Welterweight star Andre Berto (20-0, 17 KOs) overcame a very
brave effort from super tough David Estrada (21-3, 12 KOs),
scoring a spectacular eleventh round TKO in a bout for the NABF
title that also served as a WBC and IBF eliminator. After softening
up Estrada for ten rounds, Berto finally floored Estrada with
a big right hand and got the stoppage with his follow up barrage.
Time was 1:17.
Middleweight Ronald Hearns (16-0, 13 KOs) needed just 2:42 to demolish Robert Kamya (16-8, 4 KOs). Hearns dropped Kamya twice before the bout was waved off.
Heavyweight prospect Chazz Witherspoon (20-0, 14 KOs) dominated Ron Guerrero (19-15-3, 13 KOs) until the doctor stopped the bout between the fifth and sixth rounds.
Former world title challenger Omar Sheika (27-8, 18 KOs) ended a competitive fight with an explosive left hook in the fourth round that knocked out Tiwon Taylor (26-14-1, 19 KOs) at the 2:24 mark of a light heavyweight bout.
In a big upset, heavyweight Robert Hawkins (21-9, 7 KOs) ended a five-fight losing streak with a unanimous decision over Terry Smith (30-3, 18 KOs). Scores were 60-54, 59-55, 58-56. No knockdowns.
Nine months after his devastating loss to Miguel Cotto, WBA #4 welterweight Carlos Quintana (24-1, 19 KOs) returned to stop Christopher Henry (23-19, 17 KOs) in round four. An uppercut rocked Henry and the bout was stopped at 2:46.
Super middleweight Richard Pierson (5-1, 3 KOs) scored a fifth round TKO over Ray Smith (7-2, 2 KOs). Time was 2:58. Smith was down in round two.
Junior middleweight Ronney Vargas (2-0, 1 KO) used Bruce Burkhardt (0-2) as a punching bag for four rounds, winning 40-36 on all cards.
