If you were to ask the average boxing fan to make a list of the top ten fights they would most like to see, a Jermain Taylor - Kelly Pavlik fight would be included at or near the top of the list.

The September 29th undisputed middleweight championship fight boasts all the elements of classic prizefighting.

There's the legitimate champion in Taylor and the legitimate number-one contender in Pavlik. Taylor is the boxer, Pavlik the puncher. They are both undefeated and in their primes.

And perhaps best of all, the fight will be broadcast on "regular" HBO, not Pay-Per-View.

For the 28-year old champion, however, the fight presents an opportunity to redirect a career that has recently been a bit of a disappointment.

So does Taylor, 27-0-1, 17 KO's feel this is a chance to redeem himself?

"I do," he told Fightnews at the press conference to announce the fight on Tuesday in New York. "I feel like with all the stuff I've been going thru, with all the things people have been saying... this is a fight that everybody says that I need to take. And I took it. So now, after I beat him, what more can you say?"

"I feel like this fight right here, with all the criticisms that are going on; it's time to shut up," Taylor said.

Specific criticism has been leveled at Taylor for his past two under whelming performances against the naturally smaller combination of Kassim Ouma and Corey Spinks. But Spinks and Ouma were both southpaws, as was "Winky" Wright before him.

Pavlik is an orthodox fighter.

"It's a lot different," Taylor admits. "It's hard to look good against a southpaw. Everybody knows that. Especially a southpaw who can box, who can run, who can move, is slick. But I just take it as it comes. I ain't ever run from nobody and I ain't going to start now."

Even Pavlik admits that's Taylor hasn't looked good as of late.

"Styles make fights," Pavlik reasoned. "He looked bad. He's still a great fighter though. I don't think he's regressed. But we'll just see what happens on the 29th when he fights a big middleweight; a guy bigger than him. And we'll see how he reacts to getting hit by somebody like that as opposed to getting hit by smaller guys."

Despite the harsh reviews Taylor has endured, Pavlik, 31-0, 28 KO's admits he wasn't quite sure if he would wind up getting the next shot at the champ.

"I was surprised. It kept taking so long for it to happen. He kind of got backed into a corner and he kind of had no choice but to take the fight. I'm glad he did. If he didn't take the fight the media and the critics really would've came down on him. So I'm glad he took it."

Pavlik earned the shot with an exciting seventh round knockout against Edison Miranda on the under card of Taylor's win against Spinks.

"I thought he fought a strong fight," Taylor said in assessment. "I thought he fought a smart fight. He showed us that he has talent. He deserves a chance at the middleweight championship of the world."

Though Pavlik was very aggressive against Miranda he says he may slightly change his approach against Taylor.

"We're going to do a couple of things different," said Pavlik. "We're going to throw a lot of punches. We're going to make him keep up at our pace. A couple of little things technically we're going to do different."

"I see it going good," Pavlik continued. "I think it's going to be an exciting fight. I think in the later rounds though you're going to see him wearing down a lot. But other than that I think it's going to be a great fight."

JABZ

Taylor has now worked with Emmanuel Steward for three consecutive fights and has looked worse each time out. But the champion argues that all the pieces of the puzzle will fit this time around. "It's totally different," he said. "I think we've got the chemistry now. I think we're ready. I'm looking forward to this training camp. It's going to be great. I'm training in the Poconos (Pennsylvania)."

Win, lose or draw expect Taylor to move up in weight after the fight with Pavlik. "This is probably the last fight at 160," he said.

Of Taylor's 28 professional bouts, ten have gone the distance. Five of them however were in his last five fights. So is it time for a knockout? "I never go into a fight looking for a knockout. If the knockout comes I'll take it. I'm not going in there looking for a knockout. He's a great fighter. I respect him and that's about it."

Taylor vs Pavlik Presser Photos