Early on there were timing issues. Mandatories, etc.... After Bhop the HBO money dried up for Pavlik. HBO offered a flat $2 mill for Pavlik/Sturm so that fight is off unless there is some more money coming. Kelly got $2.5 mill himself for facing Lockett. Now Sturm and Pavlik are supposed to split $2 mill? Both can make as much figthing no names with lower risk. AA was asking for $1.5 mill and keep the German TV money. Supposedly a Pavlik/Abraham fight isn't worth much in Germany according to Saurland? atsch But since he has a contract for a specific number of fights with a set budget, he can CLAIM it is worth what ever he wants. This complicates negotiations. They offered Sturm over $2 mill but a Pavlik fight is only worth $500K? :huh Bottom line, I would guess there isn't enough HBO money left over after giving AA his $1.5 to satisfy Kelly. Quick edit. Does anyone believe Arum doesn't know ball park what this fight will bring down dollar wise and hasn't been in contact with HBO to get some numbers?
The same #5 Gevor was already soundly defeated by KO by Abraham. Sylvester is decent, but not much better than AA's last few opponents imo.
If anyone thinks that fighters are scared of one another at this level are on crack! KP lets Bob negotiate (somthing he's done longer than most of these other jokers have been alive!) and they tried to get Duddy and that would have been at lest a $3 million dollar payday-Would you have passsed it up? B-Hop was a decision they may have regretted but thats over. I guarantee with everything I know AA was never coming to OHIO so he could sout whatever he wants! He'll lose every round to JT then he'll beg to get out of the SMW tourny and come back down to fight KP.
You think he is matched up with JT in the first round specifically as a KP comparison fight? If he loses to JT he would have to beg but I doubt he gets the fight without the belt. He would be best to hold his IBF belt until stripped though he is reportedly relinquishing it this weekend.
AA will KO Taylor late. His power carries all the way to the end of a fight and we know Jermain has stamina issues. KP has been left with Mora and Duddy. Crap opponents. I feel a little sorry for Kelly because I can see his career stagnating quite quickly.
Anyone with any sense wanted or wants this fight to happen. But I'm pretty sure both guys wanted it. My guess is promoters. I'd blame Arum trying to get the most out of Pav. But who really knows what side it is. Either way Pav knocks him out. Abraham is nowhere near busy enough for Pav and that sittin on the ropes **** would be crucial.
Do you really think Arum cares that Saurland is winning the PR war on ESB? Doesn't put another dollar in his pocket.
Of course he doesn't cause he knows he'll make as much against Mora as he would with Abraham. But damn I would have loved to see that fight. All Kelly has to do is take that fight and he is once again on top of the world. After the Hopkins mess I want to see him get another big win. And that's really the only big thing out there.
They havent fought because of Arum babying fools. another reason why Mayweather-Cotto didnt happen, BOb is jacking up all this ****