Pavlik pulls out of fight - COULD REGRET HIS DECISION FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE

1stcontact · Aug 2, 2011

Kelly Pavlik has threatened to pull out of Saturday's fight against Darryl Cunningham over the offer he received to face IBF super middleweight titleholder Lucian Bute in his next fight, RingTV.com has learned.

A source familiar with the negotiations said Pavlik (36-2, 32 knockouts) is upset because he has been offered far less by his promotion frim, Top Rank, than Mikkel Kessler was offered to face Bute. Kessler turned down the offer.

"Kelly had heard that Kessler was being offered something like $3.5 million, and that he turned that down. So Kelly wasn't really happy with the $1.1 million that Top Rank was offering him," the source said on Tuesday, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

"So I would say that right now, I don't think that (Saturday's) fight's going to happen. Unless, of course, Top Rank comes back with something (better)."

Pavlik, the former middleweight champion, pulled out of a fight with Paul Williams last year because of a staph infection in his hand.

"This had nothing to do with an injury," the source said.

Showtime is scheduled to televise the Pavlik-Cunningham fight.
Click to expand...

Source:http://ringtv.craveonline.com/rumors/articles/168345-is-pavlik-cunningham-off-of-this-wekends-show

Edit:

Kelly Pavlik has pulled out of Saturday's Showtime fight against Darryl Cunningham, his promotional firm,Top Rank, has announced.

Pavlik was upset over the offer he received from Top Rank for a pending matchup with IBF super middleweight titleholder Lucian Bute, according to a source involved in negotiations.

The Pavlik-Cunningham fight was supposed to take place in Youngstown, Ohio, Pavlik's hometown.

Top Rank is very disappointed at Kellys sudden decision to discontinue the rebuilding of his boxing career, said Todd duBoef, president of Top Rank. Kellys team specifically outlined a strategy for Kelly to return to the ring in an effective fashion. Kellys team gave us their objectives and we set them on a course, which began last May with Kellys fight against Alfonso Lopez and was to continue on Saturday against Darryl Cunningham. It seems Kelly has derailed this plan.

Pavlik was trying to bounce back from a loss to Sergio Martinez and a subsequent bouts with a staph infection in his hand. He also recently had a stint in rehab for alcohol abuse.
Click to expand...

http://ringtv.craveonline.com/blog/168347-pavlik-pulls-out-of-saturdays-fight

PAVLIK COULD REGRET HIS DECISION FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE
by Michael Rosenthal
Aug 2nd, 2011

Kelly Pavlik has had to bounce back from some difficult circumstances, including devastating losses to Bernard Hopkins and Sergio Martinez, a life-threatening staph infection in his hand and a public battle with excessive drinking.

The former middleweight champion is now face to face with what might be the biggest threat to his boxing career.

Pavlik on Monday made the decision to pull out of a fight with Darryl Cunningham that was scheduled for Saturday in Youngstown, Ohio Pavliks hometown on Showtime.

In the process, any momentum he had regained after the Martinez setback was lost and he alienated a number of important parties.

That includes Showtime, which might never again book him on the network; promoter Bob Arum, who might be wise to sever ties with the fighter; and his own trainer, Jack Loew, who has been at Pavliks side through all the tribulations.

I'm very, very concerned about this young man, Arum told RingTV.com. I consider the actions that he has taken at this point to be very, very bizarre.

How can anybody book him in a fight when he acts in this manner?

Pavlik, 29, recovered from the infection and was dealing with his alcohol issues, which allowed Top Rank to devise a plan to get the former middleweight champ back to the top.

And it was a good plan. First, he moved up to a more-comfortable super middleweight. Then he faced solid, but limited Alfonso Lopez in his first fight in more than a year, which he won by majority decision.

Next came Cunningham, another beatable foe. And then came the payoff: If he beat Cunningham, he would face IBF 168-pound titleholder Lucian Bute in a fight that would bring back the spotlight and provide the opportunity put all his missteps behind him.

What was the problem? Apparently the money.

Arum said Pavlik would make $1.35 million to fight Bute, which Pavlik came to believe was far less than the amount Mikkel Kessler turned down to fight Bute. Pavliks reaction was to pull out of both the Cunningham and Bute fights, a mistake that could haunt him the rest of his life.

The one-time star-in-the-making was in no position to make such a move. He is far removed from his sensational back-to-back victories over Jermain Taylor, which seemed to portend great things.

As it turned out, the second Taylor fight in February 2008 was his last truly important victory. Victories over Gary Lockett, Marco Antonio Rubio, Miguel Espino and Alfonso Lopez were nice but didnt give him the bargaining leverage of a superstar.

On top of that, he had to pull out of two fights last year, one against Paul Williams because of the staph infection and another against Brian Vera because of what he called a rib injury.

Pavlik then checked himself into rehab in an effort to control his drinking. He seemed to be on the right track in his recovery only to end up in a fist fight with his brother a few weeks ago, sparking rumors that he was drinking again.

Thus, in light of all that, hes unbelievably fortunate to be in a position to fight for a major title for a seven-figure payday even if what he heard about Kessler is true.

A victory over Bute, which wasnt out of the question, wouldve vaulted Pavlik back to top of the boxing world and into a position to command huge paydays in the near future. The pot of gold was directly in front of his face.

And now that opportunity appears to be lost because of Pavliks decision to walk, which is both perplexing and sad.

I really think that there are some sort of mental issues there, Arum said.

Remember Pavliks knockout of Edison Miranda in 2007, which made it clear that he could be a force in the sport? Remember the riveting first fight with Taylor, in which he was hurt but rallied to stop the champ to win two middleweight titles?

The boxing world was abuzz over the strapping, hard-punching young man from the Midwest at that time. Now, after the stunt he pulled this time, no one could blame the powers that be if they stayed clear of him from now on.

Even those close to him have made it clear that theyre growing tired of defending him publicly.

Now its up to Pavlik to come to his senses and try to repair the damage he caused if its not too late.
Click to expand...

http://ringtv.craveonline.com/blog/168353-pavlik-could-regret-his-decision-for-the-rest-of-his-life

wrimc · Aug 2, 2011

What the deuce?!

lirva · Aug 2, 2011

Pavlik will get torn apart by Bute if they fight.

A fight with Paul Williams would be very interesting. Back when they were first supposed to fight, I had Williams to win. But looking back, its very possible that Pavlik would have connected. Very interesting fight that one.

cheekyvid · Aug 2, 2011

Bute by violent destruction

nickythekid · Aug 2, 2011

Bute and Pavlik is a good fight in my book, whatever book that is.

blacktopbully · Aug 2, 2011

pavlik bute isn't gonna let you flail away waiting to land something

happydrinks · Aug 2, 2011

Why is Pavlik thinking he should get the same as Kessler? Kessler has wins against viable opponents in the last 3 years.

HMSTempleGarden · Aug 2, 2011

confirmed that he has now pulled out

1stcontact · Aug 2, 2011

Original post edited with new info added

Scotty321 · Aug 2, 2011

Bellend. He was lucky to have a spot on Showtime on a Sat night. Next stop FNFs if he's lucky

cheekyvid · Aug 2, 2011

he's mentally shot now, he'll never be the same machine he was coming up the ranks. maybe he feels he owed something...? has he ever heard of working his way back up?
**** him, the SMW's is a deep division, no one really cares if kelly aint in the mix

ashishwarrior · Aug 2, 2011

pavlik should just retire or get it on with abraham:hey:yep

ScubaSteve · Aug 2, 2011

I'm sure Kelly has a few more decent fights in him.

If there is nothing more to this, then it's a shitty thing to do to your home fans.

Moe Greene · Aug 2, 2011

He's done. He looked abysmal last time out, Bute will take him out with ease.

Pavlik is done, he had a few good middle rounds against Martinez, but since B-Hop that has been it. Rubio win looks slightly better only because Rubio has gone on to beat a touted prospect.

The other guy he fought, some midget I'd never heard of (before or since) got up numerous times. Pavlik just isn't a killer anymore: whilst always basic, he had the drive and will to punch holes through people.

He's finished, the tatts confirm it :deal

Mandanda · Aug 2, 2011

The once blue collar fighter now more interested in earning extra $$$ then rebuilding his career. I'm not a massive fan of Arum but he stood by the lad and has tried to give him a chance but if i was him i'd let him go back to drinking and playing darts in Youngstown as that's all that Kelly wants to do. The kid ain't ever gonna be the same fighter because he's lost the mentality that got him to where he was.

Log in or Sign up

Pavlik pulls out of fight - COULD REGRET HIS DECISION FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE

1stcontact Like Mo, But Better Full Member

wrimc Boxing Junkie Full Member

lirva Boxing Addict Full Member

cheekyvid Detroit, I shall return. Full Member

nickythekid Active Member Full Member

blacktopbully Boxing Addict banned

happydrinks directfraction.storenvy.com Full Member

HMSTempleGarden Boxing Junkie Full Member

1stcontact Like Mo, But Better Full Member

Scotty321 Boxing Junkie Full Member

cheekyvid Detroit, I shall return. Full Member

ashishwarrior I'm vital ! Full Member

ScubaSteve Dwylo o Garreg Full Member

Moe Greene Guest

Mandanda SkillspayBills Full Member

Log in or Sign up

Forums

Pavlik pulls out of fight - COULD REGRET HIS DECISION FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE

1stcontact Like Mo, But Better Full Member

wrimc Boxing Junkie Full Member

lirva Boxing Addict Full Member

cheekyvid Detroit, I shall return. Full Member

nickythekid Active Member Full Member

blacktopbully Boxing Addict banned

happydrinks directfraction.storenvy.com Full Member

HMSTempleGarden Boxing Junkie Full Member

1stcontact Like Mo, But Better Full Member

Scotty321 Boxing Junkie Full Member

cheekyvid Detroit, I shall return. Full Member

ashishwarrior I'm vital ! Full Member

ScubaSteve Dwylo o Garreg Full Member

Moe Greene Guest

Mandanda SkillspayBills Full Member