PAVLIK NEEDS TO STEP UP OR DROP TITLE!
February 22nd, 2010 By Brian Gorman
Pittsburgh, PA- An unwritten boxing rule says that new champions get a pass for one soft title defense, and we got on board for middleweight (160 lb.) champ Kelly Pavlik’s 2008 defense against Great Britain’s Gary Lockett, whom he dismantled in impressive fashion over three one-sided rounds. However, the “rule” dictates that the champ’s real tenure should then commence. But with “The Ghost” (36-1, 32 KOs) two and a half years into his reign, he still hasn’t defended against a top contender because of two over-the-weight bouts in 2008 followed by a lingering staph infection in 2009 that twice led to the cancellation of planned defenses against Paul “The Punisher” Williams (38-1, 27 KOs).
… AND DIFFICULT LEFTIES ARE PAVLIK’S ONLY REAL CHALLENGERS
So the champ stands 3-0 in the middleweight division since winning the crown, albeit against the trio of Lockett, Marco Antonio Rubio and Miguel Espino. He recognizes that now’s the time to define his middleweight title reign, and as it stands, the timing for such an ambitious campaign may prove even more difficult than expected. Despite having faced only a few lefties in his career and only one at a high level (Bronco McKart back in 2006), the division over which he reigns features two excellent challengers followed by a steep drop off – and those two serious threats to his crown are southpaws: Williams and Sergio Martinez (44-2-2, 24 KOs).
FIRST UP: LEFTY SPEEDSTER SERGIO MARTINEZ
Because of the animosity rooted in Pavlik’s promoter Bob Arum’s disdain for Williams’ advisor Al Haymon, not much needed to occur to impede a Pavlik-Williams showdown, and much did occur, in the form of Pavlik’s medical problems. Pavlik-Williams just made too much sense, an American middleweight potential classic, two big middleweights with contrasting styles of power and technique versus volume and athleticism. However, with the sides deadlocked, team Pavlik has turned to Williams’ December 2009 foe Martinez, who could have easily been awarded the decision that Williams got. (I had it a draw.) On April 17 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, where Pavlik won his title and Martinez and Williams just competed in one of the fights of 2009, Pavlik faces his first major test as middleweight champ.
IF NO WILLIAMS, GO TO 168? OH WAIT, THERE’S LUCIAN BUTE
Martinez uses dazzling foot and hand speed to pounce in and out while firing combinations, a new technical challenge for Pavlik, who prefers his opponent to stand in front of him and cooperatively exchange. Should Pavlik be up to the task, he may find his blueprint for another upcoming opponent whose style looks a lot like Martinez’s, super middleweight (168 lb.) IBF champ Lucian Bute (25-0, 20 KOs), who fights that same night on HBO via Montreal against a former Pavlik victim, Edison “Pantera” Miranda. Bute may need a dance partner, having been unjustifiably left out of the Showtime “Super Six” super middleweight classic.
LEFTIES, LEFTIES EVERYWHERE
Perhaps Pavlik, with a 6’2” frame, will soon consider a jump all the way to light heavyweight (175 lb.)? Awaiting him there could be yet another lefty, “Bad Chad” Dawson (29-0, 17 KOs). We shouldn’t assume, though, that Pavlik will struggle with southpaws. His straight right, the best punch to use against a lefty, is simply devastating when he catches his man at the end of that punch. The problem he must encounter – one that may guide the outcome of this part of his career – is whether the champ can handle and defeat agile, skilled, world-class southpaws. There has to be someone else out there that Top Rank can match Pavlik against, right? Well, they just signed former junior middleweight (154 lb.) champ and possible Pavlik challenger Ronald “Winky” Wright (51-5-1, 25 KOs)…. another southpaw.
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Brian Gorman
brian i think paul williams gets knock out by miranda and pavlik..
Pavlik had one loss to one of the greatest 40 plus boxer of all time and he was a light heavyweight. Pavlik knocked out Miranda and Taylor at the time the two were the beast in the middleweight and one more Martinez is not a bum so WTF are you talking about..
Have you not read the latest interview with Bob Arum? After Pavlik’s bout with Williams fell through due to Pavlik’s infection, Top Rank wanted to re-schedule the bout. But Team Williams wanted a new contract with a 50/50 share of the profit. Williams may be good but nobody’s willing to fork out any money to watch him. On the contrary, Pavlik may not be as big as PBF or Pacquiao, but he is a big enough fish in PPV. So for Team Williams to ask a 50/50 share is like a PBF saying “I changed my mind (like a girl) and I don’t really want to fight him, so pleeeeeease”. And as Top Rank stated, the original offer stands if Williams still want it.
I can understand Williams logic for more money it only makes sence!!! He just had a fight of the year fight that was highly entertaining on hbo against Martinez. While pavlik fought whatever 5th teir fighter he fought and hasn’t fought any quality opposition since b-hop. Why shouldn’t he go 50 50 with pw? And I do think pavlik is the goods. He just isn’t being active and to lose to b-hop coming up 10 pounds is no shame. But I’ll tell u I’m very disappointed with pavlik. I believe middleweight is the most storied and amazing class in history and as champion he must do it justice!!!! With that said he is fully capable of being a great bit he must be active and clear the division. He doesn’t need to go up in weight. He should stop going to bars drinking beer with his trainer WTF!!!!!!!! Stop sitting on that little bit of money when he can generate sooo much more. He should go with roach or steward who will teach him right and advise him propperly. It’s sad when we see a fighter with soo much potential squandering it by not having the propper people around him
Williams deserved 50-50 after waiting almost a year to fight Pavlik. They owe him the extra money after stringing him along…he lost money by waiting for Pavlik when he could have scheduled something else.
Bronco Mckart was old and used up by the time Pavlik fought him, but he hurt the kid to the body afew times in that fight. Pavlik is alot less durable than most people think or he`s shown so far. If Pavlik manages to get past martinez I wouldn`t think of Winky Wright as a walk in the park for him either even at his age and how much he`s lost. Matter of Fact I think pavlik would loss that fight. Pavlik can punch but thats about it. Wright is the oposite he can`t punch but he`s got a style and in fighting that would eat up pavlik. Only thing that gives Kelly a win in old age. So far Pavliks been a huge waste of time, not that there were many other solid middle`s to fight besides afew guys Like Abraham and Strum and afew other here and there.
I like Abraham better than all of them. I’m not very impressed with Pavlik and even less impressed with Williams.
Pavlic is the Champ and it is common knowledge that the Champ makes the calls. Look at Pac and Mayweather, Floyd got greedy and wanted more or equal to the Champ, thus, no fight. Williams does not desirve a 50-50 split and guess what, he did not get it…………………………………Although, the fight was said to not come off because of medicals BUT since when does the challenger, dictate how and when medicals are taken… It was all about the money, he just twisted it to his court…………………………………………..
Gary,
The fight between Mayweather and Pac falling through had nothing to do with money. It fell through because Mayweather wanted olympic style random drug testing and Pac didn’t. I believe that Williams did deserve 50%. Pavlik has not shown himself as a great champ. But as an unpolished puncher. When faced by Hopkins he fell apart. Hopkins is one of the greats, I’ll give Pav that much. But, he had a chance to prove himself again and then got an infection that almost killed him. But magically made a fight happen with a much lesser fighter, just a short time later. I’m not buying it. I like Pav. He’s exciting. But he has a lot to prove.
Pavlik had a fantastic run leading up to and including his first fight with Taylor. He knocked out Edison Miranda back when everybody was still mortally afraid of the Colombian badass. Then Pavlik started overeating and overpartying, which now appears to have taken a permanent toll. I knew that trouble was on the way after the first Taylor fight. In the victory interview, Pavlik was asked whether he minded having to go up in weight to fight a rematch with Taylor. His reponse was something like, “No problem! That just means I get to eat more pasta!” It’s been all beer and pasta since then. But, he had a great run while it lasted. My only objection is that he didn’t fight Arthur Abraham to determine who was the best middleweight on the planet.
I used to think Paul Williams would outclass and eventually stop Pavlik. Not anymore. The guy has zero defense and I believe Pavlik would eventually finish what Martinez came so close to doing on several occasions in their bout last December. As for Martinez, he just might beat Pavlik…setting up the Williams rematch…which should have rightfully been made already, IMO.
Anthony Mundine is fighting at middleweight. He would probably make a great fight against Pavlik.
Pavlik v Mundine would be a great fight. Mundine must be the most dodged fighter in America.
Word is people in Boxing just won’t forget the comments he made about 911.
He stuffed up. But I can’t believe how many guys have dodged him from Sturm who is a cat, Pavlik, Wright and Abraham when he was still in mw. These guys are making themselves look like pretenders! Watching Mundine is like RJ when he had no challengers. The guy wants to be pushed but all these current champs think its too dangerous cos he might school them like he schooled Soliman and Green.