By BoxingNewsWorld.blogspot.com
David Tyler – Doghouse Boxing
“King Arthur Abraham is the P4P champ, regardless of what Oscar thinks. Abraham by an easy Kayo in the middle rounds or earlier if Taylor starts throwing down too soon. Abraham should Kayo everyone in the Super Middleweight tournament. That includes Mikell Kessler.”
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Michel Joseph – Boxing Talk
“Abraham wins. Give me the fighter who finds a way to win - broken jaw and all (Abraham), versus a fighter who finds a way to lose (Taylor). Taylor was lucky to beat Hopkins - fading down the stretch in both fights, and he did the same against Froch, and by the way, Abraham is just as hard of a puncher as Pavlik, who dispatched Taylor in their first fight, and simply outfought him in the rematch.”
Zachary Levin - Fight Beat
“Abraham by late TKO.”
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Zachary Levin is the Editorial Advisor at FightBeat.com. He has written boxing pieces for Boxing Digest, CyberBoxingZone, BoxingTalk, MaxBoxing, and The Sweet Science. You can find samples of his writing (on boxing and many other subjects) at ZacharyLevin.com and/or ZacharyLevin.net.
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Michael Rosenthal – Ring Magazine
“I think Abraham beats Taylor. Taylor can give Abraham some trouble with his boxing ability but Abraham is also a good boxer -- he has excellent defensive skills -- and is much tougher than Taylor. Abraham will wear down Taylor and win by late KO or decision.”
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Michael Rosenthal is an associate editor of The Ring magazine and also covers boxing for Yahoo Sports. He used to write for the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Frank Lotierzo – The Sweet Science
“Abraham.”
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Frank Lotierzo has been considered by some boxing insiders to be one of the sport’s best fight analysts. His work has appeared in Fight Game, Boxing-Illustrated, and Uppercut magazine. Prior to his career as a writer, Mr. Lotierzo hosted Toe-To-Toe on ESPN Radio and trained at Joe Frazier's Gym in Philadelphia under the tutelage of the legendary George Benton. Between 1977-82, he had over 50 fights as an amateur and pro in the middleweight division.
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Don Stewart – Reading Eagle, Ring Magazine
“I like Abraham by late-rounds stoppage. Taylor is on the decline. I'm sure plenty of people will disagree with me on this, but I believe that Taylor needs to stay in close and turn this into a real rough, physical, possibly dirty fight, a la Edison Miranda in his first shot at Abraham. Taylor won't do that because that's not his game, so Abraham will break him down from a comfortable distance and take him out late.”
Bernard Fernandez – Philadelphia Daily News, The Sweet Science
“Arthur Abraham over Jermain Taylor. Taylor, I suspect, is mentally wrung-out by losing so much recently. That could spur him into a greater effort against Abraham, but in the back of his mind he might be thinking that another defeat forever removes him as a major factor either at 160 pounds or 168. The Europeans will fare very well in the Super Six tournament, mirroring their recent dominance at heavyweight.”
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A native of New Orleans, Fernandez has been at the Philadelphia Daily News for the last 24 1/2 years, and covers boxing and Penn State football for the paper. His late father, Bernard "Jack" Fernandez Sr., was briefly a pro welterweight who fought twice on Archie Moore undercards in 1944. Fernandez’ stature among his peers is considerable. He served as president (five terms) of the Boxing Writers Association of America (succeeded recently by longtime BWAA vice president Jack Hirsch). The winner of 1998 BWAA Nat Fleischer Award for excellence in boxing journalism was inducted into the Pennsylvania Boxing Hall of Fame in 2005, and was the first media person selected.
(Video by Eastside Boxing)
Tom Donelson – Black Athlete Sports Network
“Abraham will win over Taylor late.”
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Geoff Poundes – Ringside Report
“I think Taylor is probably in the last chance saloon and Abraham is a great middleweight. That said, Abraham is much the smaller man, so I think he might have some trouble with Taylor before seeing out a close-ish 12 round decision.”
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Lyle Fitzsimmons – The Sports Network
“This is a big one for Jermain. He's consistently failed to deliver on the promise he showed while an unbeaten champion at 160. But I think this is a good matchup for him. I see him using superior all-around skill and winning what amounts to a "last stand" fight. Taylor UD 12.”
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Lyle Fitzsimmons is an award-winning 20-year sports journalist, a full voting member of the Boxing Writers Association of America, Contributing Boxing Editor of The Sports Network, and a frequent contributor to Stone Cold Sports on the MVN Network (stonecoldsports.com) and several sports radio talk shows throughout the U.S.
(Video by Eastside Boxing)
Yero Moody – East Side Boxing
“Abraham v. Taylor will be a must win for Taylor. I see Taylor winning via TKO because he will be going all out and when he is really focused J.T. is a very dangerous puncher. Abraham's defense leaves a lot to be desired.”
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Adam Pollack – Cyber Boxing Zone, Author of ‘John L. Sullivan: The Career of the First Gloved Heavyweight Champion’, ‘In the Ring With James J. Corbett’, and ‘In The Ring With Bob Fitzsimmons’
“I'm taking Taylor in an upset because I think Jermain's speed and experience will come through for him this time. Abraham's outside style is well suited for Jermain. He does not have the physically imposing heavy handed style that guys like Froch and Pavlik had, so I can see Jermain lasting it out rather than faltering at the end. But of course, tension and condition is the big X factor with Jermain, and you never know how a guy will react to coming off a KO loss. Could be close.”
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Adam Pollack is a prolific boxing historian and author. He is also a practicing criminal defense attorney in Iowa City, IA. He is a staff writer for Cyberboxingzone.com, chair of USA Boxing's Rules and Regulations Committtee, chair of USA Boxing's Judicial Committee and a member of its Women's Task Force. He is also a boxing coach for the ICOR (Iowa City/Coralville) Boxing Club and attorney living in Iowa City, Iowa.
To date, Adam has published four books, John L. Sullivan: The Career of the First Gloved Heavyweight Champion, In the Ring With James J. Corbett, In The Ring With Bob Fitzsimmons, and his latest publication, In the Ring With James J. Jeffries.
(Video by Eastside Boxing)
David Greisman - The Keene Sentinel, Boxing Scene
“Abraham by KO, though I give Taylor a small chance because his back is against the wall.”
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David Greisman is an award-winning member of the Boxing Writers Association of America.
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My sincere gratitude to all the above boxing writers who found time to share their thoughts generously despite their busy schedule.
Marshall N. B.
Boxing Fan
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More predictions:
Ramon Aranda – 411mania
“An excellent fight that Abraham is able to dictate down the stretch before stopping Taylor.”
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Comments from readers:
Arthur Abraham is making a move up in weight to super middleweight for the Super Six Tournament. The first obstacle in his path is former undisputed middleweight world champion Jermain Taylor. Abraham is a strong, rugged boxer. He holds a tight guard, picks his spots when to throw, and when he does, unleashes lethal flurries of punches. In addition, he possesses inhumane stamina due to greuling conditioning camps. Taylor was once on top of the world but his world came crashing down after consecutive defeats to Kelly Pavlik an embarassing knockout in the closing seconds against Carl Froch. This is his last chance at redemption, and a desparate man is the most dangerous as they say. However, it is difficult to teach an old dog new tricks, and it's hard to see Taylor last the distance without tiring.
Vikram Birring - Doghouse Boxing
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Lay back and watch two great boxers fight.
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