ESPN- Kelly Pavlik trying to make clean break

I've always pulled for Pavlik despite having no connection other than watching him live and meeting a few guys from Youngstown who flew out for the fight. Now I feel a little more connection as he is battling the same demons I did.

His success as a father, husband, and son is far more important than his success in the ring. However, having a stated goal and path of action is often the best way to battle addiction. In this case, the goals may be mutually obtainable and his boxing could help with his bigger picture.

War Kelly!

 

:good definitely, Sergio didn't utterly dominate this fight from open to end like some want to believe

 

Hopefully we can see AA Vs KP somewhere down the line and maybe PW vs KP as well

 

Given the whole picture, Kelly may not have had the stamina to win a 12 round decision but the cut became a big factor. He admitted he got lazy with a punch and was countered over it. (Even that could have been stamina)

 

I don't dislike Pdub enough to want to see him in the ring with Kelly. But then again, some of his remarks about ducking ......

 

I'm pulling for him, but this Martinez talk is silly. I'm also not convinced that 160 will be as easy for him as people think. I'd like to see him fight a tuneup and then move on to Abraham.

 

The cut happened in the 9th, mate - Sergio completely dominated that round and swept it from there on in. I remember Merchant talking about a possible 10-8 round without a knockdown for Martinez, that's how dominant he was in the 9th. (I don't agree with the 10-8 call, btw).

I had it 4-4 in rounds up until then, with Pavlik ahead due to the 7th round KD.

115-112 to Sergio was my score.

As for a rematch, I'd love to see it, but after Pavlik has a couple of tuneups. Too early to call before then.

:good

 

I agree, but only partly. Sergio beats the Kelly he fought that night 10 out of 10 times.

The Kelly who fought and beat Jermaine Taylor would have been a handful.

At any rate, he's out there with Robert Garcia and a great conditioning team. If, and admittedly it's a big if, he can make 160lbs comfortably and his head is on straight, he could still be a force.

 

I think we could both be right; the major cut (the one the inept cut man couldn't stop, so Pavlik had no vision for the remainder of the fight) was in the 9th though.

Pavlik wasn't knocked down - read what I wrote.Merchant was talking about a potential 10-8 with no KD for Sergio. Martinez was KD in the 7th - pretty much an off balance, flash KD though with no damage done.

I saw what you wrote about Sergio not seeing the championship rounds; that's... interesting. What makes you think that, mate? Pav hadn't landed anything heavy really or done any serious damage to that point, although he was coming on strong.

 

Excellent post. Well reasoned and intelligent.

Which begs the question: what the hell brings you to ESB??

 

I agree with you 100%

 

If he is 173 now he can already make 160 easy. In the Martinez fight he rehydrated all the way up to 178.

Makes me happy because Pavlik never fought as well above the 160 pound limit. Although he may not have been as focused at the time of those fights.