...that Abraham won't even get the chance to fight Pavlik for the undisputed middleweight championship. Just look at the facts: Abraham really struggles making weight - Pavlik not only has a fairly beatable mandatory to get back on a winning track but Arum even plans to re-built his fighter...which he will use as an excuse to avoid Abraham/make Abraham think about to accomplish his biggest dream which might cost him dearly when he steps up to the ring as a half-death due to weigh-drain. But first of all, AA has to defeat Marquez and therefore needs to come to the ring without being weigh-drained... IMO, if and when he beats Marquez an Sturm beats Sylvester, a fight vs. his German rival will be the one he and his promoter will be chasing for as AA would work his balls off and then steps up to 168 as Arum would still favor his fighter to "rebuild". I don't blame Pavlik but Arum from a legacy-standpoint as AA will never have the chance to prove that he could be the undisputed middleweight champion but then again I can't blame them b/c this is what they do for a living and an exciting young fighter as Pavlik can still earn enough money vs. less-regarded fighters - money > legacy...that's life...
Don't worry man,I'm sure the fight will happen,don't think Pavlik will be that quick to jump to SMW after saturday night.Arthur has to take a few more weight losses for a few mor efights and he will get Pavlik.Just as a personal opinion Abraham would totally outbox Pavlik.Anyway if not they will meet at 168 anyway...it won't be for a undisputed title tough.
It's disappointing that this fight won't take place next year, at middleweight as planned. I think you are selling Pavlik short, though. Someone who took a fight against Hopkins at 170 will not fear moving up to 168 to fight Abraham once he's back on track and ready to move to 168. All the big fights will be at 168 after Abraham moves up and the higher weight will suit Abraham even more. Pavlik will fight him; I wouldn't worry.
Where are you getting your information? I think Arum said Rubio in February and AA next summer. I am 100% in favor of KP taking the Rubio fight. Sometimes we need to stop thinking like fans, and think like a promoter or manager. A fighter who looses badly ALWAYS needs a safe tune-up afterwards. That's just good management. Pavlik seems like the type of guy who will be itching to get back on top. As far as I'm concerned AA proved himself when he took the Miranda rematch in Edison's back yard. The fact that both of these guys seem to have testicles about the size of basket balls is one of the things that makes this fight so attractive. I can't see KP being content to live off a string of second class mandatories. I'm confident this fight will still happen.
I have no doubt that they will fight at 168 if they are still on top of their game and I'm also not selling Pavlik short - it's just b/c that the fight won't happen at 160...
Catchweight of 166. Abraham fough there against Miranda, Pavlik fought there in the Taylor rematch. Sorted.
I am more worried about Arthur not being able to make weight soon and having to move up even if Pavlik was willing to fight him at 160 next summer or autumn/winter.
Arum said in an interview that they are still looking for Abraham. But first things first: Marquez and Rubio, but Kelly will fight Rubio as soon as February. Don't forget that HBO already had a few words on Abraham, a bit of hype really, something like "there's a threat down there for Kelly. Arthur Abraham can cause a lot of problems just like Bernard" which is a bit of an overstatement. What Abraham has to do is to keep his weight down in between fights for 6 to 9 months and the fight will come up, I more and more believe that. Lampley and Steward were talking about the fight two times during the fight, despite Pavlik was losing, I mean nothing happens without a reason on PPV television. Good new for AA is that there's no one else on HBO's horizon, they don't really like the idea of a Duddy, and Abraham has already made his statement in the US. Just keep his weight down and wait.
That is what I was trying to say in my initial post - Arum will try to waste time, hoping AA slides away/move up or loses at 160.
If this fight happens at 166, I'm gonna be pissed off.:twisted: I really hope you are wrong Tom Tocca.
