TAYLOR: "I DON'T THINK HE HAS THE SKILLS TO COMPETE WITH ME."
By Percy Crawford | September 17, 2007
Middleweight champion Jermain Taylor recently spoke to FightHype.com about his upcoming clash with Kelly Pavlik on September 29th at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. Check out what he had to say about the fight, his future plans and much more.
PC: How have you been doing Jermain?
JT: Things have been just fine with me and the rest of Team Taylor.
PC: How has training in the Pocono's been going for you?
JT: Training camp has been great in the Pocono Mountains. This is the first time I have had training camp here in the Poconos and I could see myself training here again.
PC: This will be your last fight at middleweight. How many fights has it been for you where making middleweight became tough?
JT: This will be my last fight at 160lbs. I will be moving up to 168lbs after this fight. Ever since my second fight with Bernard Hopkins, it started to become a little difficult.
PC: You've taken every fight that people thought you wouldn't take, including this one with Kelly Pavlik. Why not just move up to super middleweight after the Spinks fight and write off the Pavlik fight?
JT: First, this is a fight the public wanted and a fight I wanted. Kelly certainly has earned a shot at my title. I didn't have a problem fighting one more fight at 160lbs.
PC: Stylistically, Pavlik is different from guys you've fought recently.
JT: His style is perfect for me. We also fought as amateurs so we both have a feel for each other.
PC: What do you think will be the difference in this fight with Pavlik that will ultimately have your hand raised at the end of the night?
JT: I respect Kelly as a fighter, but I don't think he has the skills to compete with me.
PC: Roy Jones Jr. will be fighting Tito Trinidad in January. Who do you like in that fight and is the winner a future option for you?
JT: It's hard to say. That fight could go either way. It's quite possible that either one could be an option for me in the future, but right now, my focus is on September 29th.
PC: Will Jermain Taylor stop Kelly Pavlik on September 29th?
JT: Jermain Taylor will retain his middleweight title on September 29th!
PC: The last time we spoke, you made it clear that you didn't watch much boxing unless it was someone you had on your radar. Is that still the case?
JT: Yes. I have been watching tapes of Kelly's more recent fights. I mentioned before we fought as amateurs.
PC: What did you think about Bernard Hopkins' fight against Winky Wright?
JT: No comment
PC: Do you dread talking to Larry Merchant after fights?
JT: Not really. I don't have any problems with talking to Larry after fights.
PC: How tough is it having to leave your wife and kids to disappear out to the Poconos for training camp?
JT: It's not difficult at all. My family knows it's my profession and it's something that happens every time I'm in training. I never have training camp at home (Little Rock).
PC: I should've bet you last year, but November 23rd,LSU and Arkansas will be dueling it out on the gridiron again and all bets are accepted. Let me know if you are interested.
JT: OK
PC: Good luck in September Jermain. I look forward to this fight. Is there anything you would like to say in closing?
JT: I would like to thank all my fans for their support.
If you ask me I think Jermain Taylor is gona let him have it. The fights gone get stopped
By Percy Crawford | September 17, 2007
Middleweight champion Jermain Taylor recently spoke to FightHype.com about his upcoming clash with Kelly Pavlik on September 29th at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. Check out what he had to say about the fight, his future plans and much more.
PC: How have you been doing Jermain?
JT: Things have been just fine with me and the rest of Team Taylor.
PC: How has training in the Pocono's been going for you?
JT: Training camp has been great in the Pocono Mountains. This is the first time I have had training camp here in the Poconos and I could see myself training here again.
PC: This will be your last fight at middleweight. How many fights has it been for you where making middleweight became tough?
JT: This will be my last fight at 160lbs. I will be moving up to 168lbs after this fight. Ever since my second fight with Bernard Hopkins, it started to become a little difficult.
PC: You've taken every fight that people thought you wouldn't take, including this one with Kelly Pavlik. Why not just move up to super middleweight after the Spinks fight and write off the Pavlik fight?
JT: First, this is a fight the public wanted and a fight I wanted. Kelly certainly has earned a shot at my title. I didn't have a problem fighting one more fight at 160lbs.
PC: Stylistically, Pavlik is different from guys you've fought recently.
JT: His style is perfect for me. We also fought as amateurs so we both have a feel for each other.
PC: What do you think will be the difference in this fight with Pavlik that will ultimately have your hand raised at the end of the night?
JT: I respect Kelly as a fighter, but I don't think he has the skills to compete with me.
PC: Roy Jones Jr. will be fighting Tito Trinidad in January. Who do you like in that fight and is the winner a future option for you?
JT: It's hard to say. That fight could go either way. It's quite possible that either one could be an option for me in the future, but right now, my focus is on September 29th.
PC: Will Jermain Taylor stop Kelly Pavlik on September 29th?
JT: Jermain Taylor will retain his middleweight title on September 29th!
PC: The last time we spoke, you made it clear that you didn't watch much boxing unless it was someone you had on your radar. Is that still the case?
JT: Yes. I have been watching tapes of Kelly's more recent fights. I mentioned before we fought as amateurs.
PC: What did you think about Bernard Hopkins' fight against Winky Wright?
JT: No comment
PC: Do you dread talking to Larry Merchant after fights?
JT: Not really. I don't have any problems with talking to Larry after fights.
PC: How tough is it having to leave your wife and kids to disappear out to the Poconos for training camp?
JT: It's not difficult at all. My family knows it's my profession and it's something that happens every time I'm in training. I never have training camp at home (Little Rock).
PC: I should've bet you last year, but November 23rd,LSU and Arkansas will be dueling it out on the gridiron again and all bets are accepted. Let me know if you are interested.
JT: OK
PC: Good luck in September Jermain. I look forward to this fight. Is there anything you would like to say in closing?
JT: I would like to thank all my fans for their support.
If you ask me I think Jermain Taylor is gona let him have it. The fights gone get stopped
