Boo hasn't been around for a few days so I'll use his line. "Is Kelly Pavlik 14 seconds better than Jermain Taylor?" Kelly came into camp at 185 for his recent fight. He added muscle to his upper body and reports are his punches have some real snap to them. He is ready for 168 NOW. The Williams fight shouldn't/won't happen. It is an epic mismatch and Kelly has a grudge against Paul. I think Bute could well be his next fight after Martinez.
kelly has made his name laying people out who will stand in front of him. froch will be bigger and stronger than anyone who has decided to stand and trade with kelly, but until froch learns how to keep his hands up and protect his chin a little better, kelly will kill him. my god, it would be hard for kelly not to land his right.
If I could pick any opponent from 154-175 to make Pavlik look the best possible, it would be Froch. In a match between two aggressive fighters, the guy with the better fundamentals usually wins. Longer, straighter punches get there first; keeping your hands up deflects most of your opponents best work; proper balance gives good punching position and makes knockdowns less likely. Pavlik not only has those fundmentals that make him more likely to land the big punch, but a better work-rate, more proven chin, better tools, a superior record as a puncher and much greater ring generalship and educated pressure. This one wouldn't last long, and it wouldn't be competitive. Pavlik by KO.
Not as far as Froch is concerned. You don't need complex stylistic breakdowns when it comes to the guy. Taylor landed his right on Froch easily. Pavlik has a technically better, more accurate and much more damaging right hand than Taylor does. He will land, and Froch isn't getting off the hook when he does.
Pavlik would find it difficult to deal with Froch's Jab. Also the pace of the fight might be hard for kelly to deal with.
froch's strength will be the biggest thing. he's stronger than bhop was at 170, imo. but carl shows some very bad habits with his jab. his left hand is so low in the first place and he often rocks his left slowly before flicking it out there. kelly also has quite a good jab of his own. pace...yeah carl can keep it that's for sure but so can kelly. kelly's weaknesses that were on display against bhop won't be as evident in this fight as a result of how carl goes about his business in the ring.