Last week during the signing of his April fight with Joe Calzaghe, Bernard Hopkins (in an obvious jest) stated that “I will never let a white boy beat me.”
He should hope he never has to face the humble, but brutal puncher, exciting new Middleweight champ Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik.
In 2002 I suffered some pretty devastating personal losses. I really needed to be alone. I decided to take an apartment in Pennsylvania. I moved near Lancaster, in the heart of Amish and Mennonite country. I was the only black person in the entire town and I have never felt more welcome from any group of people in my life.
I took a temporary job as a mason’s helper, working for a very large and highly successful construction firm. Most of the men I worked with are of German background. Some are third generation masons. They quickly gained my respect.
They are some of the toughest, strongest men I have ever seen. And they demanded from me a work ethic, that I thought was a thing of the past in this country. I have never seen men more focused; or more determined to be the best.
I will never forget “Scott Madernis” in my opinion one of the toughest, strongest men I have ever seen. And although I have three black belts and thirty-five years of martial arts experience, I would not be eager to battle any of those men I worked with.
When Jermaine Taylor steps into the ring for his February 16th rematch with the devastating puncher Pavlik, he is facing a young man who epitomizes all the qualities I grew to respect in that small Mennonite community. Qualities which I have embraced.
Jermaine Taylor was knocked out by Kelly a little more than six months ago, in one of the most exciting middleweight Championship fights in recent memory. Kelly Pavlik is the new middleweight champion and I cannot see anyone (perhaps maybe Joe Calzaghe) that can to stop him.
The Middleweight championship will not be at stake. Taylor and Pavlik are fighting at a catch weight of 166 pounds. This is going to make it even more dangerous for Taylor. He will be getting into the ring against a heavier and even stronger Pavlik, who is tall and lanky. Kelly can easily carry the extra six pounds. I predict Jermaine will probably get knocked out again, and it may be more brutal.
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