YOUNGSTOWN As Kelly Pavlik prepares for a 170-pound bout with Bernard Hopkins in October and a potential super middleweight showdown with Joe Calzaghe, its important to remember one fact: Pavlik is the middleweight champion. And if he wants to keep his WBC and WBO titles, hell have to defend them. Kelly has been in some unusual circumstances, said his co-manager, Cameron Dunkin. I think they [the organizations] understand that. But we dont want to [tick] them off. Since winning the titles in September, Pavlik won a non-title rematch with Jermain Taylor at 166 pounds in February, then defended his titles against Gary Lockett last month. Pavlik (34-0, 30 KOs) will meet Hopkins (48-5-1) in a non-title fight on Oct. 18 in Atlantic City. Dunkin took a lot of criticism for arranging the Lockett bout, but he knew it was important for Pavlik to get one of his mandatory defenses out of the way. Lockett entered the bout as the WBOs No. 1 contender and has since dropped to 12th. Even though people didnt like it [the matchup], it was a big deal for me to fight Lockett because it helped us keep the belts, said Dunkin. You dont know whats going to happen down the line. If Pavlik beats Hopkins and Calzaghe wins his fight with Roy Jones Jr. in September, theres a good chance Calzaghe will opt to defend his WBO super middleweight belt against Pavlik. Depending on when/if that happens, Pavlik could have time to take care of one of his mandatory defenses before fighting Calzaghe. The WBCs No. 1 contender is Marco Antonio Rubio, who was one of the opponents considered by Pavliks handlers before they chose Hopkins and who is ranked third by the WBO. The WBOs No. 1 is Sebastian Zbik, who is ranked seventh by the WBC. If he fights one of those guys, itll make everybody real happy, Dunkin said. Dunkin wasnt thrilled with the idea of a bout at 170, but after negotiating with at least a half-dozen opponents, he was happy just to get a fight done. Dunkin said repeatedly he was willing to let Pavlik rest for a few months if they couldnt find the right opponent. Hopkins is a big name guy and our big concern was the weight, Dunkin said. Its a lot heavier, but we have a lot of faith in Kelly that he can get it done. Dunkin said Pavliks biggest question about the bout was, Will the fans in Youngstown like it? Kelly always wants to know if theyll be happy, Dunkin said. I told him absolutely. Its a terrific fight. He has more title defenses [20] than any man in the history of the middleweight division. Its an honor to get to fight Hopkins. Plus, Dunkin said, I wont have to hear any more about Gary Lockett.
I just wonder how this is gonna all work out:huh after fighting Hopkins and most likely beating him Pavlik will face Calzaghe as that is the biggest fight out there for Kelly. But on other hand Pavlik has to defend his middleweight title at some point vs lesser like Rubio and Zbik or lose the WBC and WBO titles but HBO won't pay for such fights :-( And were does leave the Pavlik vs Arthur Abraham fight that seemed was a sure thing for early 2009:think
In spite of what Joe is saying now, he's not fighting Pavlik. Bhop set Joe's odometer ahead and unless it gets turned back against Jones, Joe wants NO part of Kelly. Kelly will mount a more whithering attack against Bhop than Joe was able to mount. Joe will see this and he will want NO part of Kelly. And here is the one thing NO ONE has mentioned yet. Bob Arum and Frank Warren are friends. Joe fired Frank for pushing the Pavlik fight. The only way Arum deals with Joe after he fired Frank is if Joe drops his drawers and bends over real far on the purse split. :deal So, Joe wants to appease the fans and hold onto his SMW trinket a little longer, he want NO part of Kelly Pavlik.
Notice that Joe only mentioned Kelly AFTER Bhop was announced? Why? He will wait to see how Kelly fares against Bhop. You better believe he is desperately hoping Bhop can take the measure of Kelly because Joe's hand was forced by fans. But see my previous post.
I see after Hopkins Pavlik fighting Arthur Abraham and then one mandatory ( most likely Rubio ). So its highly unlikely that Pavlik will face Calzaghe in the first half of next year. As such Calzaghe will likely have to find someone else to defend his belt against. ( Perhaps his mandatory? I'm sure it isn't Pavlik )
I just think it's gonna become almost impossible for Pavlik to get back down to 160 by 2009... I think he and Abraham should just let go of their belts at 160 and officially move up to 168 in 2009.
Am I the only one who wants to see Pavlik fight Marco Antonio Rubio and Sebastian Zbik more then a Pavlik a Hopkins fight:rasta
08' will start the worst stretch in KP's boxing life. begining with Hopkin's and so on.......in a ROW! just a prediction.
Hard to say. His last defense was too easy and he took no damage in the second Taylor fight. His training has been harder on him than the last too fights.
it might be, that those arent big names, but they are his mandatories. its a part of boxing. you cant critisize a guy, for trying to keep a hold of his belts. pavlik is on rather tight time-line.. hopkins old, and this might he his last fight, joe allready mentioning retirement, so if pavlik want those fight, it actually now or never. the abraham fight is probably not their radar right now, given the above mentioned "old" fighters.
And I don't get at all How you guys want to Pavlik fight Hopkins more Pavlik vs Rubio or Zbik:huh Hopkins makes ugly boring fights no matter who he fights look at his bouts with Winky and Calzaghe how can one want to see Hopkins in action is beyond me:-( Pavlik vs Rubio would be a war while it lasted and action packed:bbb and much pleasing to eye :thumbsup Zbik is a classic boxer and vs Pavlik would more pleasing to the eye
Sounds as though Pavlik has his hands ull, and it's likely he will be accused of ducking someone before it's over atsch
why are you making **** up? unless you're in the calzaghe camp you have no idea what is going on so don't act like you do. god i hate the internet.
Joe's own mouth leads me to these conclusions. He said he would NEVER fight Jones in his autobiography and in an internet clip that has been pasted here MANY times. He said Pavlik was the fight he wanted. Joe's own words. You simply cannot believe what Joe says. Don't like the net? Leave.
