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Show Sunday, February 17, 2008 HERALD DAILY D9 Pavlik stays unbeaten with unanimous decision over Taylor .Greg Beacham - THE ASSOCIATED PRESS LAS VEGAS -A- stats, throwing 845 total blows to Taylor's 456. with both landing a roughly equal . lthough you wouldn't know it from Kelly Pavlik's history of dynamite knockoutspatience is among the middleweight champion's greatest virtues. Pavlik waited seven years for his first title shot against Jermain Taylor last year, and didnt waste it. In the rematch Saturday night, Pavlik persisted until the late rounds, when he finally landed the big punches that kept him perfect. With a strong finish to a bout with more tactics than theatrics, the pride of Youngstown, Ohio, beat Taylor on Saturday night for the second time in 4 12 months, winning a unanimous deci- 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, after repeating "I lost, I lost," several times when consoled him in the ring. "I knew it was a close fight, but I guess he won the last couple of rounds," Taylor added. "He's a strong fighter, and I give him a lot of credit." In their first meeting, Taylor knocked down Pavlik in the second round and was leading on all scorecards before Pavlik caught him with the first of several devastating right hands, eventually leaving Taylor defenseless against the corner ropes. Both fought more deliberately in the 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, which hasn't always been Taylor's strongest attribute. Though Pavlik was more active in nearly every round, Taylor conserved his energy and only got in trouble in the 11th. Taylor wrapped Pavlik in clinches until the round ended, snuffing either fighter's best chance at a knockout, but Pavlik won the 12th round on all three judges' scorecards to clinch the victory. Taylor and Pavlik probably won't fight again at middleweight. Taylor plans to sue 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. Fans of both fighters packed into the casino arena, with Pavlik's Ohio supporters roundly outnumbering Taylor's faithful from Arkansas, whose chants of "Whoo, pig! Sooie!" were drowned out by Pavlik cheers. k Pavlik's impressive wins over Edison Miranda and Taylor made him a rising star and a hero in his native Youngstown. Fans embraced him as the heir to an outstanding boxing tradition including Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini, who attended Pavlik's fight in support. Pavlik made dozens of public appearances culminating in a pregame pep talk to the Ohio State football team before its game against Michigan, but he cut off the victory tour eight weeks ago well-wishe- sion. 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. Taylor came up just short on all three judges' scorecards despite a markedly improved performance after getting his first career loss in their initial (27-2-- bout. The fight could have gone either way until the 10th round, with both fighters using canny strategy to minimize their opponents' strengths. Pavlik finished tremendously, staggering Taylor in the 1 1th with the power that makes him a knockout artist but also the skill that could keep him on top for years to come. "He was better tonight than the first fight, (but) I was better, too," Pavlik said. "It was a more tactical fight. ... From rounds 10 through 12, 1 was finally landing body shots," Pavlik said. "He was tired. I could hear him exhaling." Pavlik stunned Taylor with a seventh-roun- d knockout , victory in Atlantic City last year, claiming Taylor's WBC title in one of the most scintil lating bouts in recent weight history. 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. "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." Judge Dave Moretti favored Pavlik 1 17-- 1 1" in the rematch, while Patricia Morse 3 and Jarman had it Glenn Trowbridge scored it The Associated Press also scored it narrowly for 1 115-11- 116-11- Pavlik, Pavlik dominated the punch 115-11- about two weeks earlier than expected for his trainer, Jack Loew. Though Pavlik was the favorite in the rematch, he retained the humbfe habits that endear him to fans almost as muchahis punishing punch&srTavlik slept on the couch in his palatial suite at the MGM Grand, and he joined his fans in the buffet line one night. 2-- 1 ISAAC HEBER Morgan's Chase Markham hit a at the buzzer to send the game into overtime, but the Wasps' accuracy from the free throw line proved to be too much for the visitors as Wasatch moved on in the 3A boys basketball tournament with a overtime victory over Associated i X Press right punches Jermain Taylor during their middleweight boxing match at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Saturday. . . n "Ir- if - back-to-bac- 9 14 Morgan Wasatch ' HERALD BREKKEN, , mti Kelly Pavlik, :rrr:P f iiifM ouoOi Wasatch, Delta " advance in 3A boys hoops tournament DAILY 4 19 6 18 24 13 15 63 79 4 20 goal: Morgan 6 (Brooks 2, Markham 2, Murdock, P.Wincester), Wasatch 7 (Woodruff 2, Hallows 2, Bamgartner, Pelo, King). ,, fin i-n-s o(i cJjJl ' ' t3.. i J' " XSI Vi - "N. V, . '1 . . mam .L.I n. - sir "" 4 V 30-fo- 79-6- 3 Morgan. Taylor Woodruff led the Wasps with 25 points and Mike Pelo added 22 points and 10 rrebounds. Guard Trevor Bamgartner had 10 points and 11 boards and Brennan had 14 points as the Wasps spread the ball around. Wasatch trailed 0 at the half, but rallied and led late in the fourth quarter, thanks in shooting large part to from the free throw line. After Markham sent the game into overtime, the Wasps got a quick lead and spread the floor. Morgan was forced to foul, and Wasatch was even better from the line in OT than it was in the fourth quarter, and with Pelo going to help Woodruff going the Wasps drain 13of-1- 6 shots. Wasatch (16-7- ) now goes on to play the winner of the Delta 63, Grantsville 56: At Delta, Jaren Jeffery scored 17 point, pulled down 13 rebounds and blocked six shots to lead Delta (20-2- ) past Grantsville in the first round of the 3A boys tournament. The Rabbits will play Wa(6-1- satch next week. GRANTSVILLE (56) Lujan 2, Paulich 3, Colson 19, Rupp 2, Kelley 2, R.Roberts 18, Chllds 8, Gumuclo 2. Totals 22 56. 3 DELTA (63) Hill 9, Stoddard 8, Nielson 11, Jeffery 17, J.EIIason 63. Chappell 7. Totals 18 Grantsville 12 15 12 16 goals: Grantsville 2 J.EIiason, Chappell). Delta 9 ' 16 12 12 R.Roberts 456 1163 2), Delta 3 r 11, 1 (Hill, 28-2- le game. MORGAN (63) Braoki 1 1, Murtock 3, T.WInchestw Porter 11, Markham 8, Harried 10, Saunders 1. Totals 231) 17 63. lijnii miifriinrr n and rebounder Russell to injury (torn MCL) just three minutes into the game and the Utes took advantage in the first round of the 3A tournament. Visiting Uintah built an lead before the Hawks rallied. They came back, but not quite enough: Chris-tense- UINTAH (63) Monsen 3, Bunderaon 16, Morgan 63. 7, Curtis 11. Totals 18 25, Pelo 22, King 4, Hallows 79. . 2, Hansen 24, Upton NORTH SANPETE (60) Ebell 3, Curtis 3, Daniels Jorgensen 10, Untan North WASATCH (70) 10, Woodruff Bamgartner 14, Tukuatu 4. Totals 20 mmmiMMmlt4'Rr Johnson 10, P.Winchester 5, 4. I Uintah 63, North Sanpete 60: At Mt. Pleasant, North Sanpete lost leading scorer 16, Chrlstensen 2, Allen 8, Bailey 14. Totals 22 12 9 13 21 17 11 15 25 goals: Uintah 6 (Hansen 2, Bunderson 3, North Sanpete 3 (Seely, Curtis, Ebell). Sanrwtt Monsen), Seely 4, 60. 63 60 . " 1114" s |