In looking for the boxer of the year award there is usually a certain set of criteria used to determine the award: quality of opponents, record and if any of the fights produced a career defining victory. So far in the year 2007 one name has met that criteria more than any other: Kelly Pavlik.

Pavlik, despite a perfect 29-0 record, entered 2007 as a virtual unknown to anyone but the most hardcore boxing fans. The Youngstown, Ohio natives first fight in 2007 was against Jose Luis Zertuche whom he knocked out in the 8th round. His second assignment of 2007 was against hard-hitting Edison Miranda. This fight was to determine who would challenge middleweight kingpin, Jermain Taylor later in the year. Most people, including former champion Bernard Hopkins, felt Miranda would not only beat Pavlik but would rule the middleweight division for years to come. Pavlik had other plans. In a fairly entertaining bout of power shots Pavlik stopped Miranda via TKO in the 7th.

The fight for the undisputed middleweight championship took place on September 29, 2007 in which Pavlik, despite his recent string of wins, found himself once again an underdog against champion Jermain Taylor. Both fighters were both young and undefeated; someone's "O" had to go. In the 2nd round, Taylor caught Pavlik flush and sent him awkwardly to the canvas. Most people (myself included) did not think Pavlik would beat the count. Pavlik would beat the count and survived an onslaught of punches from the champion to make it through the round. Fast forward to round 7 and Pavlik is behind on all three scorecards before Pavlik gets Taylor against the ropes and then *BOOM* a crushing right hand lands flush on Taylor who tries to back up and cover himself. Pavlik was having none of it as he unleashed a volley of hard shots sending the champion to the canvas right as the referee steps in to wave the fight.

Ladies and Gentlemen the New Middleweight Champion of the World, Kelly Pavlik.

In 2007, Pavlik has won all three of his fights, all three by TKO/KO and defied the odds in route to his career defining victory over, Jermain Taylor. Pavlik not only showed his punching power but his heart as he rose from the canvas and made it through a round lesser boxers would not of.

In ending although it's been a heck of a run for 'The Ghost' there are still some big fights left on the rest of the 2007 calender including Miguel Cotto vs. Shane Mosley (November 10), Joe Calzaghe vs. Mikkel Kessler (November 3) and the battle of the unbeaten: Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs Ricky Hatton (December 8). The outcomes of these fights could sway the vote especially if Cotto or Hatton pull off victories but as it stands right now, Kelly Pavlik is the undisputed best of 2007.

Learn more about this author, Matthew Soo.
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