[EmpireWF]

The big boxing match-up is this Saturday night on HBO. Jermain Taylor (27-0-1, 17 KOs) defends his WBC Middleweight Championship against Kelly Pavlik (31-0, 28 KOs) in Atlantic City.

The odds are in Taylor's favor to retain the championship.

"From a style standpoint, my last couple of fights were wrong for me, but they were fighters who stepped up to the plate. Kelly Pavlik is a fighter, just like me. He comes to fight, no running, no holding. It's about time. People are going to be surprised by what they see on Sept. 29. I'm expecting a lot of fireworks in the ring with Kelly Pavlik. This is my kind of fight" Taylor said earlier this month.

Pavlik spoke about his underdog status, ""I feel I earned my way up to the top," Pavlik said on a conference call last week. "I still have more to prove, but I'm not going to let them put me down. I'm number one for a reason. They just think I'm a slow white kid from the Midwest who comes straight ahead. They're going to be surprised. It just makes it sweeter when I win."

The two fighters met back in 2000 during the Olympic Trials. Taylor won.

FOX Sports on MSN - Boxing - Fighting words: Taylor needs to impress

[EmpireWF]

Kelly Pavlik is the NEW world middleweight champion tonight. He defeated Jermain Taylor via TKO in the 7th round to take the strap.

According to Yahoo!, Pavlik was down on points when he knocked Taylor out.

Pavlik knocks out Taylor in 7th round for middleweight title - MMA/Boxing - Yahoo! Sports

[Phils20]

Pretty good night of boxing, and it was free for a change! The first bought was good as well, at least for about 5 rounds!

Wish more of the fights were free, I won't buy the PPV's anymore!

BTW, my dumb self walked from the TV and missed the knockout! DOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHH