INQUIRER Sports

LAS VEGAS -- Jermain Taylor will try to jump start his struggling career when he faces fellow American Kelly Pavlik Saturday in a rematch of their middleweight fight four months ago.

Former champ Taylor scored a second-round knockout on September 29 in Atlantic City but couldn't close the deal.

Pavlik got up off the canvas to knock out Taylor in the seventh, seizing the World Boxing Organization and World Boxing Council titles in the process.

There are no titles at stake on Saturday but make no mistake the bragging rights will be huge.

"This fight right here is a make-or-break fight," said Taylor. "I've got to go in here and do my thing or who knows what is ahead?"

There will be two championship matches on the Pavlik-Taylor undercard. Mexican Fernando Montiel (35-2-1, 26 KOs) will defend his WBO Super Flyweight title against countryman Martin Castillo (33-2, 17 KOs).

The second championship bout will pit WBC Super Flyweight titleholder Christian Mijares (33-3-2, 13 KOs) of Mexico against challenger Jose Navarro (26-3, 12 KOs).

Pavlik (32-0, 29 KOs) is contractually obligated to give the former champion a rematch, and his first fight since shocking Taylor will take place at the MGM Hotel at a catchweight of 166 pounds. The fight will be broadcasted by Home Box Office on pay-per-view.