LAS VEGAS, Nev. — With tactics instead of theatrics, Kelly Pavlik found another way to beat Jermain Taylor.

The knockout artist from Youngstown, Ohio, stayed patient and proficient Saturday night to beat Taylor for the second time in 4 1/2 months, winning a unanimous decision to remain unbeaten.

Pavlik (33-0, 29 KOs) failed to knock out his opponent for the first time in his last 10 fights, but he threw far more punches and landed more memorable exchanges than Taylor (27-2-1), who came up just short on all three judges' scorecards despite a markedly improved performance after getting his first career loss in their initial bout.

"We both did a better job tonight than the first fight," Pavlik said. "The key was inside pressure. My fight strategy was to put the pressure on him, back him up. My jab and punches landed more this time. Nothing will top the first victory over Jermain, but it was a great win tonight."

Pavlik stunned Taylor with a seventh-round knockout victory in Atlantic City last year. Pavlik's belt wasn't at stake this time, with both fighters agreeing to a rematch at a catch weight of 166 pounds — 6 pounds above the middleweight limit.

Judge Dave Moretti favored Pavlik 117-111 in the rematch, while Patricia Morse-Jarman had it 115-113 and Glenn Trowbridge scored it 116-112. The Associated Press also scored it narrowly for Pavlik, 115-113.

Pavlik dominated the punch stats, throwing 845 total blows to Taylor's 456, with both landing a roughly equal percentage. Pavlik's jab was the difference, with 484 of them keeping Taylor at bay despite the Arkansas native's edge in power punches.

"I thought he was doing a pretty good job," Taylor said. "I knew it was a close fight, but I guess he won the last couple of rounds. He's a strong fighter, and I give him a lot of credit."

Both fought more deliberately in this rematch, staying away from the sensational exchanges near the ropes that made their first meeting so exciting.

Taylor kept the early rounds in the middle of the ring, using his jab to prevent Pavlik from backing him into a corner and trading power shots. Pavlik needed a few rounds to figure out how to counter Taylor's discipline.

Though Pavlik was more active in nearly every round, Taylor conserved his energy and only got in trouble in the 11th, when Pavlik staggered him with a combination late in the round. Taylor wrapped Pavlik in clinches until the round ended, snuffing either fighter's best chance at a knockout.

Taylor and Pavlik probably won't fight again at middleweight. Taylor plans to pursue a career at super middleweight while Pavlik defends his belt this summer against anyone from John Duddy or IBF champ Arthur Abraham to Felix Trinidad.




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