Ozell Nelson got out of Jermain Taylor what Manny Stewart could not. Was it just simple familiarity, or is Ozell actually a very good trainer? I mean, in Ozell and Taylor's first professional fight together, it made me wonder how much more in sync they would have been if they had been working together professionally from the beginning. After all, it was Nelson who oversaw this project from day one; he's not just one of these alleged great trainers who just jumps in a CHAMPIONS corner (i.e. Teddy Atlas). Jermain Taylor had a hell of a game plan and executed it for the most part to perfection. I guess ultimately, there comes a time when you just have to give way to the better fighter, which Pavlik has proven. Now, how much time is it going to take before people on this board start bad mouthing Pavlik? Why does everyone hate a winner???:dunno:
Sure there will be some people that turn on him, but nowhere near the same ammount of hate as Floyd Mayweather gets, for example. People do hate a winner, but it helps if you're a nice guy, which Pavlik certainly appears to be. Look at Cotto for example, he is a winner, but has a laid back demeanor, so people don't hate as much on him as they do arrogant fighters like Mayweatehr and RJJ. As far as Ozell is concerned, I have not seen the fight, so I can't comment on how good a job he did.
w/Out Question, Ozell is a MUCH BETTER Fit for Taylor than Manny Steward EVER Was... Ozell Got MORE Out of Jermain N 1 Fight than Manny Did N the Winky, Spinks, Ouma & 1st Pavlik Fight COMBINED... 4 the 1st Time EVER, Jermain Taylor ADJUSTED...Jermain Taylor Actually COUNTERED a Jab...Jermain Taylor Actually Went to the Body a Time or 2...Jermain Taylor Actually IMPLEMENTED the Advice he Got btwn Rounds... ALL CREDIT to Ozell Nelson... Initially, He Didn't Trust Himself Enough to Train Jermain Professionally, but he's CLEARLY a Good Fit for him...CHEMISTRY, Baby... REED
Wager details for ticket number 488506372-1: Wager Type: Money Line Wager Status: Win Risk / To Win Amount: 3700.00 / 2000.00 (USD) Accepted 2/16/2008 9:11 PM - EST Amount Paid: 2000.00 Sport / Period: BOXING Other Sports / Game Line: Kelly Pavlik 2/16/2008 10:30:01 PM - (EST) -185 * Game Notes: HBO/PPV/MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE BOUT Official rules via www.wager-info.com - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Jermain Taylor won that fight...I know what I saw and Taylor won 8-4 ________ Mercedes-Benz Conceptfascination
So would you go on to say that if Nelson pursued other pro prospects, he may have a chance to be a great trainer? Or, is he just a good fit for Taylor, the same way Alton Merkerson is for Roy and Roger Mayweather is for Floyd?
I think it had more to do with Taylor giving his all knowing he had to look impressive and survive the fight. It was more about Taylor's attitude this time, instead of nelson's work. Jermain proved that he's mental tough enough and have heart.
But he proved he had heart and mental toughness long ago against Hopkins and Wright, and even more recently against Pavlik the first time. I mean, in the first Pavlik fight he wasted himself after knocking Pavlik down on the 2nd and worked on fumes until he was knocked out; all along, he was still trying to win the fight and not just survive.
I don't know if we could really crown Nelson just yet. I mean Taylor did fight a better fight and made adjustments however he still could have done more and one has to wonder why in the hell he didn't let his hands go in the second half of the fight. I'll Holla 5000
dsimon writes: This is where I am at. Time will tell if Nelson really makes a difference as a trainer. Its encouraging that Taylor made a few changes for the better, but it remains to be seen how much things will change for Taylor via Nelson. Good start! But can Nelson get Taylor to go to the body more? Punch harder? relax more in the ring? Either work off the jab or as I have stated, abandon the jab as a weapon? As I stated before I think Taylor could be knocking mudda fuckers out with the right approach. He is physically strong as shit and I think he punches with better form than most people give him credit for.
