Ready to rumble, again: Taylor opts for rematch

By JOE SCALZO

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

YOUNGSTOWN — Few people in Kelly Pavlik's camp expected Jermain Taylor to activate his rematch clause with the Youngstown middleweight.

None of them are worried.

"I'm excited," said Pavlik's trainer, Jack Loew. "It's like someone just tossed a lion a raw piece of steak.

"I can't believe they're jumping back into the fire."

Added Top Rank chairman Bob Arum: "They really made a fatal mistake by exercising the option at this point. We're licking our chops."

Taylor, who lost his WBC and WBO middleweight titles to Pavlik last month, activated the clause Monday. The rematch will most likely take place either Feb. 16 in Las Vegas or Feb. 23 at Madison Square Garden in New York, Arum said. The Garden is tentatively booked for a Wladimir Klitschko heavyweight title fight on the 23rd but could become available.

There is a "very big likelihood" it will be a pay-per-view bout, Arum said. Pavlik's last three fights have been on HBO.

"We'd book a few big Hispanic stars on the undercard and make a big pitch coast-to-coast," Arum said. "

"I'd rather go to Madison Square Garden," said Loew. "More people [from Youngstown] can come and it's better for us all the way around."

A Vegas fight, possibly at the MGM Grand, seems more likely. The rematch is scheduled to be a non-title bout at 166 pounds. Any changes must be approved by Top Rank.

Not having the titles on the line won't affect public interest, said Lou DiBella, Taylor's promoter.

"It's a tremendous fight and I don't think the public cares about that," said DiBella, when asked about the belts. "We know Kelly has no ... fear in him and neither does Jermain. That's what made it such a good first fight.

"They could fight 10 times and there wouldn't be a bad fight."

The fight must take place within 150 days of the Sept. 29 bout, which ended with a seventh-round knockout by Pavlik (32-0, 29 KOs). Taylor (29-1-1, 17 KOs) earned $3 million for that fight, while Pavlik earned $1.05 million — the biggest payday of his career. The February bout would be split 50-50 and be a joint promotion between DiBella and Top Rank.

Pavlik had been scheduled to fight a lucrative title bout with Irishman John Duddy Jan. 26 in Atlantic City, which has been postponed indefinitely. Privately, some of Taylor's handlers advised him to take an interim bout or two before fighting Pavlik — Arum preferred a Taylor-Pavlik rematch to take place in June, which would have been more lucrative — but Taylor was adamant he wanted the immediate rematch.

"It's his decision," said DiBella. "He's very confident. One thing people can say is he never runs away from any challenge in his career. He knows this is a great challenge and he knows he was seconds away from winning the first fight.

"It's the first time in his career he's suffered a knockout and he believes he can reverse the result."

One decision Taylor will have to make is whether to retain trainer Emanuel Steward. Taylor is 2-1-1 with Steward, winning a draw against Winky Wright, followed by unimpressive wins over junior middleweights Kassim Ouma and Cory Spinks.

"I don't make the deal with the trainer, so I have nothing to say on that topic," said DiBella. "I have my own personal opinions, but they don't amount to the price of tea in China."

Arum has already talked with MGM representatives about hosting the fight and said they were "unbelievably enthusiastic."

"They've been getting calls since the first fight from customers all over the country asking when Pavlik was going to fight in Las Vegas," said Arum, a New York City native who lives in Vegas. "One thing we can guarantee is, there won't be any snow here."

Pavlik has never fought in New York City. He's 9-0 in Las Vegas, including 2-0 at the MGM. His most recent Vegas bout was Oct. 7, 2005 at The Aladdin, where Pavlik knocked out Fulgencio Zuniga in the ninth round to win the vacant NABF title.

"Kelly is the draw now and it don't matter to us where we fight," said Loew. "From a local fan standpoint, it's better in the Garden. But a lot of people will go to Vegas. And he's gained so much popularity around the world, no matter where he goes, he'll be the hot ticket."

Pavlik's next bout could be in Cleveland Browns Stadium in June, possibly against Bernard Hopkins, Arum said. Top Rank plans for Pavlik to fight four times a year for the next three or four years, then retire.

"We've got a young stud," said Arum. "We want him to fight often and fight big fights."

Although Taylor cannot back out of the agreement without facing litigation, Loew knows nothing is official yet.

"Until it's signed, sealed and delivered, anything can happen," Loew said.

scalzo@vindy.com