They were contenders ““ too bad no one saw them

There were a lot of can’t-miss sports events last weekend, what with baseball’s final weekend, a Saturday filling of college football upsets and a full slate of the NFL on Sunday.

It’s too bad a lot of sports fans missed the most electrifying contest of the weekend.

Saturday’s title bout in Atlantic City between middleweight champion Jermain Taylor and underdog Kelly Pavlik was a sight to see.

The problem is, with the state of boxing in this nation, it’s unlikely many people saw it or care to know the outcome.

Pavlik won with a TKO in the seventh round to become the undisputed middleweight champion. He had landed his right all night when he caught Taylor with another flush fist in the seventh round and then unleashed a flurry of hits in the corner that forced referee Steve Smoger to call the fight.

Taylor hurried out of the ring and back into his cave. Pavlik stood, undaunted after an unbelievable route to the top of the boxing world.

In his previous fight Pavlik was just supposed to be a warm-up for Edison Miranda as Miranda prepared to face the champion Taylor. But Pavlik knocked Miranda out in seven rounds, setting up the fight of his life against Taylor.

This was hailed as a classic matchup. Taylor the star from Arkansas, trained by Emmanuel Steward, one of the sports’ legends. Pavlik the unknown, guided by Jack Leow, a round, blue-collar type with whom Pavlik had worked since the age of 9.

Pavlik trained in his hometown, Youngstown, Ohio. Like that city, he lacks glamour. And like that city he is tough as nails. His punches are fierce and his will is strong.

Never was that more apparent than in the second round of Saturday’s bout when Taylor landed a thunderous right hand on Pavlik’s chin. The blow dropped Pavlik. And after two rounds it looked like the kid from Youngstown was out of his league and in serious danger.

But Pavlik kept fighting. As he battled on, the New Jersey crowd (with its fair share of Ohio natives) took on Pavlik’s cause. They chanted his name and roared for his swinging fists.

They call Pavlik “The Ghost.” Maybe it’s because he is pale from those Ohio winters and a little lanky for a fighter.

Taylor found out that Pavlik is not a friendly ghost.

The underdog’s blows found Taylor all night. By the end Taylor’s face had ballooned, his puffy right eye marking the spot Pavlik had battered. He looked like a beleaguered man, who, more than anything, knew that he had been beaten.

What’s amazing is that Pavlik was down on all three cards in the seventh round when he finished Taylor off for good. After the fight Pavlik said he thought he was ahead the whole time and Taylor seemed surprised that he had had the lead; just another crazy twist on what was a crazy night in Atlantic City.

The fight seemingly had it all, an irresistible storyline, spectacular action and dramatic conclusion.

But it didn’t have the eyes of American sports fans. And that’s a shame.

I’m not even a boxing fan. Never would I have imagined writing this column before seeing that fight. And even in writing it, I sense the lack of interest among sports fans.

At the same time, there’s a rematch clause in the contract Pavlik and Taylor each signed entering the fight. These two will almost certainly meet again in the coming months.

And maybe that one really will be a can’t-miss.

E-mail Allen at sallen@media.ucla.edu if you’re wondering what a TKO is.

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