Taylor at 168

[Alo2006]

Taylor said he will move up to 168 after he fight Pavlic. He said he's having a hard time making 160.

[paulfv]

He is going to get KTFO unless he cherry picks better than PBF and pre-Tarver RJJ. I could see a guy like a Clottey KO'ing him, and that's 3 divisions down. Joe C would absolutely destroy him (at least while he still has his skills). He might have a shot against Kessler, because he is more athletic, but if MK catches him, it's over.

JT has bought too much into the HBO garbage hype, and fighting all those junior middles hasn't helped him any. He is now officially on the clock until he gets sparked.

[smokey]

I believe him. He's a big dude and getting older. 168 is a rough division for an American fighter. The Euros have most of the names in 168. He'd probably do better to just jump to 175.

[shelterr]

He will get starched at 168 for sure. He just can't hang with those bigger guys. I think he will go up in weight following a loss to Pavlik anyway.

[deram]

I believe him. He's a big dude and getting older. 168 is a rough division for an American fighter. The Euros have most of the names in 168. He'd probably do better to just jump to 175.

Well, you are right that 168 right now is a danger zone. Safer to jump to 175 where it would be easier to make some gimmie name fights with Roy, Tarver, Hopkins..

He should claim he did it because he suddenly grew so fast that he is a LHW now, or becasue few americans have competed at 168 before. He will find an excuse if he looks for one.

However, while easier to get those gimmie fights like Hopkns, Winky etc. have been getting there... it would be a hell of a lot more interesting if he actually went for some big fights than gimmie fights. And I think he will.

[smokey]

Well, you are right that 168 right now is a danger zone. Safer to jump to 175 where it would be easier to make some gimmie name fights with Roy, Tarver, Hopkins..

He should claim he did it because he suddenly grew so fast that he is a LHW now, or becasue few americans have competed at 168 before. He will find an excuse if he looks for one.

However, while easier to get those gimmie fights like Hopkns, Winky etc. have been getting there... it would be a hell of a lot more interesting if he actually went for some big fights than gimmie fights. And I think he will.

I was mainly talking about the fact that, as an American fighter, he'd find himself looking at a lot of opponents that the US fans wouldn't recognize or care about. He would have to become a road warrior, which I don't think most fighters would choose if they had other options.

[paulfv]

Seems like the move to 168 is inevitable for Taylor. Bad for him because I don't think he has a prayer against guys like Kessler or Calzaghe. Those two would eat him alive for dinner and still have time for dessert afterwards. Even a guy like Lacey might also beat him if Jeff were to ever get his act straight after the Calzaghe loss.

I think Mundine would also be a tough matchup for Taylor. Probably second only to Calzaghe, IMO.

[Marnoff]

He will get starched at 168 for sure. He just can't hang with those bigger guys. I think he will go up in weight following a loss to Pavlik anyway.

Taylor IS a Super Middleweight. He ways in so early that he gets to make 160lbs, but he's actually a Super Middleweight and will fit right in, size-wise.

[Throwing doubles]

Paulfv - what do you know. Kessler travels to the other side of the world, injured, and beats Mundine comfortably. Then you tell the world Mundine is second only to Calzaghe. What a complete ignorant you are.

[sean]

taylor is a good middleweight, has good skills and as a famous american , might draw more attention to the 168 division from across the pond.

he will fit into the division size wise with no problem , because he is a super middle in size fighting at 160, not sure who taylor`s path to the top is going to go through.

pavlik is also basically a super middle in size fighting at middle, so if taylor handles pavlik ( i have my doubts) then he will come up full of confidence.

[Maxime]

I still think Taylor is too small for 168lbs.

Even if he gained 10 lbs he would still step into the ring lighter then guys like Bute and Kessler.

The guys at 168 are just as fast as the guys at 160lbs. But they hit like the guys at 175lbs.

The 168lbs division is not a walk in the park.

[PeterNielsen70]

taylor is a good middleweight, has good skills and as a famous american , might draw more attention to the 168 division from across the pond.

he will fit into the division size wise with no problem , because he is a super middle in size fighting at 160, not sure who taylor`s path to the top is going to go through.

pavlik is also basically a super middle in size fighting at middle, so if taylor handles pavlik ( i have my doubts) then he will come up full of confidence.

He has the hight, but he has that slim bono structur a la Thomas Hearns. I think he will be to small.

[scorpy]

It would be easier to expect great things of Taylor at 168 lbs if he had not looked so average in his last 2 fights...

[Alo2006]

I see a lot of people are sleeping on Taylor :think He will beat Pavlik :yep