Bute-Pavlik in March at 166lbs (catchweight)? *Updated*

Who says he has to fight in March?

 

I like Kelly, so I hope this fight does not happen.

 

I agree with this. Pavlik seems to be able to make 160 easy when he has discipline. Bute is struggling to find a decent opponent at 168.

 

Bute will have way too much variety for Pavlik. He would stop Pavlik with body shots!

 

Why would he leave Canada, if he can sell 25.000 tickets there and generate more money for himself - and for his opponent? But contrary to what you might believe, he'd be happy to leave Canada if the opportunity comes, after all, he left Romania for the same reason and look how popular he's now. Moving to 175 is the plan, but he'd definitely stay for a Pavlik showdown, and that's what HBO wants.

 

I could see this fight happening. I'd like to see Bute move up and Pavlik stay at 160 if he can but this would be good. Bute would be the favorite but Pavlik is a live underdog here. I think he was getting a little too much praise before the Hopkins fight and now he's getting a little underrated. Bute is probably too well rounded for Pavlik but I think Pavlik's style and power would work well against Bute. I love the idea of Cloud-Diaconu and would really like to see that happen even if Bute-Pavlik doesn't. Their styles mix perfectly and I'd make Cloud a favorite there.

 

Back on September 17th Vindy.Com published an article titled "The Weight is Over," but the wait is not over, and the weight issues are not settled. The fight on 11/13 serves only 2 purposes.

1) It gives Pavlik the opportunity to knock somebody out in front of a huge live audience and monstrous TV audience, and look good doing it.

2) It gives Top Rank, Team Pavlik, and Cameron Dunkin a full training camp and an actual fight to use as a gauge to determine what division KP actually belongs in.

Top Rank and Dunkin put a lot of pressure on Pavlik to try and stay at 160. Bob Arum believes "the middleweight championship of the world is a sacred trust." Cameron Dunkin believes that stupid mistakes and a **** poor cutman cost Pavlik the titles, and that he is still the best middleweight in the world.

Kelly seems a lot more ammenable to staying at 160 now than he did a few months ago. I personally believe Pavlik hates Paul Williams and would like the opportunity to beat the **** out of him. I also think Pavlik would fight Martinez again in a heart beat if he can safely make 160.

At this point any talk of a Bute/Pavlik fight is premature. The "Weight" isn't over until 11/13.

 

There's been talk of Pavlik/Bute before, but I just don't see it happening.



if I'm wrong, expect a war, ...Bute by UD

 

Pavlik needs to drop Lowe

 

Williams Martinez are maybe also going to be tied up for a while. I see Martinez taking this one

 

Absolutely. And he needs a few "tune-ups". Right now Bute beats the **** out of him.

 

I think the Pavlik camp has taken the Williams/Martinez situation into consideration. Sturm is the name they mentioned for the next fight after Vera. Back when it looked like Pavlik/Sturm could be made HBO low balled the **** out of it, and both fighters lost interest. So much has changed that they might be willing to take the pay cut, and KP may be willing to go to Germany.

I'd love to see Williams and Martinez settle their business even if it takes a 3rd fight, and meantime, let Pavlik, Sturm, and Pirog sort things out. I think Pirog would jump on the opportunity. Sturm I'm not so sure about.

In the best case scenario, this time next year we could be looking at a huge middleweight showdown for all the marbles.

 

Even with a few tune ups, Bute tunes him