My gut tells me that Pavlik would be battering Benn pretty badly at times, but get caught with one too many shots in return. Kelly has a decent chin, but lets be honest. He's never be hit by anybody the power of Benn. Some of the shots Benn nailed Eubank with in the first fight, would have done in the alchy. Benn KO 6 in a brutal war.
I think Benn blows him out. Pavlik would get in plenty of shots but he'd be getting hit with even bigger power in return and I don't think Pavlik would hold up. Benn TKO 4
Nice matchup. I like Pavlik by KO at 160, Benn by KO at 168. Both fights competitive early but developing into a rout for the winning fighter in each instance. I'd be surprised if either fight saw the 10th round.
Even though Benn was less skilled at 160, his power at middleweight was nothing short of freakish. Outside of Hearns, and Jackson, I don't know if theres another middleweight that hit as hard as Benn. And Kelly has never been hard to hit.
I heard ya the first time, X :: Pure power alone doesn't beat Pavlik. Whereas Benn's ability to absorb, quite frankly, is overrated. I don't see his chin or stamina holding up at 160. To me, that's the biggest difference there. Different story at 168, where Pavlik's power doesn't have anywhere nearly as much impact.
Close fight, Pavlik really does bang at 160. At 160 its a pick em, and at 168 I favour Benn by late stoppage.
Benn would have punched holes in Pavlik. To beat Benn you need a granite chin (Eubanks) or considerable smarts (Watson). Pavlik had neither. MTF
