It looks like Pavlik/Calzaghe is almost official

Agreed, becuase it seems like Joe wants to fight on the senior circuit. After Kelly gets past Lockett, I think this deal gets done?

 

Good local news print:

Weighty issue: Pavlik weighed in at 164 pounds earlier in the week, which is exactly where he wants to be. “We’re right there and this is without even struggling to get him there,” said his father, Mike Pavlik Sr. “We haven’t began to really start cutting down on his food because with the amount of work he’s doing, he has to eat. I have to keep him strong.” The last few pounds are generally the most difficult and Pavlik may have to wear a fat suit during training to lose them. “I haven’t worn it yet, but it’s gonna be coming out,” said Kelly Pavlik. “We’re polishing it right now.”

Finally: Pavlik was asked by a reporter what makes him so difficult to face in the ring. “I’m a bad dude,” he said, smiling. “Mentally and physically, I prepare for every fight like it’s my main fight. I take nobody lightly and I train like nobody else does. My training shows in the ring. I wear fighters down.” Plus you’re a bad dude? “Plus I’m a bad dude,” he said, laughing.

Ted Muller is back for his third stint in the camp.
YOUNGSTOWN — After three rounds of sparring with Kelly Pavlik on Wednesday, 35-year-old super middleweight Ted Muller took off his headgear to reveal a bunch of small cuts around his eyes and already-flattened nose.
He was sweating and breathing hard and, yet, looked strangely like a man having the time of his life.
How was he feeling? “Let me do a crossword and get my bearings and reconnect my brain matter,” he said, smiling. “I’ll be OK.”
This is the Chicago native’s third trip to Pavlik’s camp, having helped prep the champ for his bouts with Edison Miranda last May and Jose Luis Zertuche in January 2007. Muller could pass for a fighter in his 20s and he has the look (and style) of a guy you’d like on your side in a bar fight.
In short, he’s a banger, the type of guy who’s made his living the hard way. After winning 15 of his first 16 fights — the other was a draw — he has since gone 4-13-1, losing his last six bouts. But he’s fearless and his style is similar to that of Gary Lockett’s. He also comes to work, which is why Loew keeps bringing him back.
“It’s a lot of fun to come here,” said Muller, who reportedly makes about $1,000 a week as a sparring partner. “I have a good time.
“I relax a little bit [between training sessions] and we have some good sparring sessions.”
Pavlik sparred for six rounds on Wednesday, his first three against James Countryman and his last three against Muller.
Countryman, a 27-year-old super middleweight from Detroit whose lone loss in 12 bouts came against Youngstown native Darnell Boone, had never sparred with Pavlik before Wednesday and had the extra pressure of doing it in front of a group of reporters.
After a tentative start — his initial fears were that Pavlik was going to “tear his [butt] up,” he said — he settled in and looked more comfortable.
When asked what he thought of Pavlik, Countryman said, “He’s strong. He’s good, man. He’s got good defense, too.”
Muller, predictably, wasn’t tentative. He delivers more shots — and takes more — than most sparring partners.
After a couple nice jabs by Pavlik, Muller yelled out, “That’s it, champ! C’mon!”
Midway through the session, Pavlik yelled out, “I’m ready for a nap.”
“Kelly looks good,” Muller said afterward. “He’s sharp for this early in camp.”

 

you know the old saying:

"It's one thing to have people THINK your a idiot, but it's another to open your mouth and remove all doubt"

Never has it fitted someone so damn well. Congratulations.......idiot.

 

Some here seem to be quite sure that Slappy Joe will beat Pavlik. Personally I think Joe C's fans should not want this fight. We know Slappy Joe won't be able to knock out Pavlik, who is not devoid of boxing skills. Pavlik will be able to hit Joe and we know Pavlik has dynamite in his gloves. At best, the fight is a pick'em, but I would hope and not be too surprised if Slappy Joe gets TKO'd.

 

This surprised me when I first read it. Since Kelly is aways talking about the 'safety' of making weight, I thought he dropped a lot at the end. Especially since I've heard he walks in about 10 to 15 heavier. I'm glad he drops weight with his work ethic and not by 'chemical' means.

 

The ideal thing would have been for Calzaghe to take care of business against veterans like himself(Jones, Tarver)first and let Pavlik take care of the middleweight division before fighting eachother.

 

My god there's a lot of Pavlik ****tards about at the moment. KP deseves much better fans than these guys.

However I suspect you may be just taking the ****.

 

The clock is ticking on this one though.

 

I thought for sure it would be Jones-Calzaghe next, but I guess not. I would rather see this fight then Pavlik-Rubio. Should be a good fight and I'll go with Calzaghe by Decision.

 

of all the guys pavlik has beaten recently that have made his name (zuniga, miranda, taylor) not a single one of them have been great boxers. and no one he has ever fought has been as close to as slick as JC

 

and calzaghe would definitely take RJJ now. RJJ had to go to the 11th round against anthony hanshaw who andre dirrell demolished. im a calzaghe fan and would admit that hed probably have lost to RJJ back in the day. But you cant call JC a ducker and not point the finger at RJJ as well. Calzaghe will beat pavlik and RJJ

 

1. What happened to Calzaghe-Jones? I thought that was a good match-up.

2. Pavlik still has to get by Gary Locket, or whatever his name is. Obviously he probably will have little trouble, but hey, that's why they fight the fights.

3. I'd pick Calzaghe by landslide decsion over Pavlik. Pavlik is technically sound and very strong, good double-jab, great right hand, but Calzaghe's southpaw style and work-rate would win him a decision (like in most cases).

 

I don't like the style matchup here for Pavlik. I can see Joe patty-caking his way to a decision.

 

While Kelly Pavlik throws decent punches at air.

I know Calzaghe isn't much of a puncher, and that he throws plenty of arm punches, but with his work-rate, I think it's understandable. It's just his style. I actually like it, his style. It's been sucessful for him for over a decade.

This is a good match, but yes, I take Calzaghe on a wide decision.

 

i hear this rubbish all the time from brits so it's time for me to burst your bubble.

bear with me, try to keep an open mind, and the light will come to you.
assuming your allegiance to calzaghe isn't clouded.

*pauses for breath*

boxing is a business.

if you choose not to play this side of the game and rack up hometown defences without ever seeking US PPV exposure, which gains you momentum and weight in your negotiations because you now have a solid international fanbase and network support, then you'll never be taken seriously by - wait for it - the big dawg who truly hogs all the limelight, glory and P4P accolades (in this case, jones and hopkins. the two fighters who could have made him 'great' if he decided to ante up and chase them down when it really mattered. but he didn't...anyway...).

frank warren is the very definition of a 'milk master' promoter. not to be blame him completely because calzaghe said to himself :

"sweet! hyped up title defence, minimal risk, rake in the cash. i'm in!".

now you know why ricky hatton got away from warren and actually got the floyd fight while joe didn't get hopkins.

you talk about hopkins "manning up" to fight a "prime calzaghe".

but the truth, my friend, is that calzaghe never 'manned up' to fight a man who had been fighting on the world stage defendinghis title while "prime calzaghe" was wasting away against has-beens.

all calzaghe needed was, for example, a PPV undercard fight against willaim joppy and that was his foot in the door in the US - and a whole new ballgame.