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Taylor's good intentions

Pavlik defeats the inspiration for former middleweight king

Last updated: 5th November 2008

Taylor: hungry

Everything is peaking at the right time. I'm ready. I feel great.

Jermain Taylor
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Jermain Taylor says he is primed for a return to winning ways against Jeff Lacy.

The former undisputed middleweight champion boxes the Floridian in an eliminator for the vacant WBC super-middleweight title in Nashville on November 15.

Taylor is coming off back-to-back losses against Kelly Pavlik but says he is in perfect shape to make a return to winning ways.

"Everything is peaking at the right time," he said. "I'm ready. I feel great, and we have a good game plan for Jeff.

"I have the skills to go in there and win, and look good doing it. I'm hungry, and I'm ready to fight."

Until that double defeat Taylor had gone 28 undefeated, including two wins over recent Pavlik conqueror Bernard Hopkins.

His stock fell dramatically and many critics questioned his willingness to get involved in a brawl, but the 30-year-old from Little Rock says that four-month period will inspire him against Lacy - himself still best remembered for being systemically exposed by Joe Calzaghe.

"It pushes me like nothing else," he said.

"This is a fight both of us need to win, especially me, coming off two losses."