I saw it. I'm not going to spend a bunch of time typing up an analysis until we see some real confirmation. As far as PWilly fighting at 160 goes, the division is so shallow that PW is the best fight we could get right now. It would have been pretty cool to see Williams/Sturm, Kelly Pavlik/David Lopez in a co-feature, and then Pavlik/Williams in a unification fight. However, as deserving as I think Lopez is, Kelly is not in a position to take a fight like that right now.
You don't need a lot of time to see this won't be that competitive. And you know that. As long as you know that and don't come on the board 10/4 talking about KP is one of the G.O.A.T.'s at middle b/c he beat up on this Welterweight.
Yeah, KP isn't going to get much overall credit for this and imo rightly so. I'd have rather seen him fight Balzsay than Williams. I know that sounds absurd. Pav should be in that 168 tournament, whether his team wants to admit it or not. Cleaning those guys out (besides Taylor who he already owns) would have really helped his rep.
Right on. I would have loved to see Balzsay. b/c then KP gets a belt he can unify with Bute in another huge fight then defend against a Bika/Green type, probably get a pretty KO and set himself up for a mega showdown with the super6 tourney winner while holding 2 belts. Beating a WW with really no worldclass MW experiance will add nothing to KP's MW legacy.
Kelly took **** for saying it, but that tourney may not be good for the fighters in the long run. Some tough fights, forced time frame and money? IF he fights Bute as planned, then that sets the winner of that fight up for a showdown with the tourney winner.
This is probably the biggest money fight available to him and is with a P4P fighter. Probably a wise business move.
Okay -- speculate for me. Do you think KP's choice of Williams had anything to do with the long standing Winky grudge?
I rather enjoy being on the same side for once. Can't wait for AA/Froch. We can gang up on some Frochettes!
Pure speculation on my part, but you know the Pavlik/Wright history. It makes me wonder. In addition both claimed they wanted Pavlik last year. Niether fought him, but they did fight each other. Now KP is fighting the winner.