From Fightnews: [...] Its that type of success that has Arum looking to continue to promote Pavlik in the area. With Cleveland being about an hour commute from Youngstown, with a larger indoor facility, it makes perfect sense. The event would be held at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. Arum also noted that the names being thrown out there as possible opponents for Pavlik’s next title defense are Vernon Forrest, Sergio Mora, and Felix Sturm. In terms of John Duddy, another name that has been in the mix, Arum wants that fight to be held in Madison Square Garden.[...] Arum probably thought Abraham was just another hyped Euro, but ever since that Showtime appearance Abraham is always the 4th or 5th name you´ll hear out of his mouth. :: Guess we´ll see Mora or Forrest in June and Duddy in November. :shit::shit:
Pavlik can always fight Raull Marquez.....Wayne Elcock....Khoren Gevor..or Sebastien Demers...to really prove himself...
Exactly, its a damn shame that Pavlik doesnt call out Abraham and it make me lose a lot of respect for him, but lets not kid ourselves as Abraham is one, if not the most apart from Erdei, most protected champion in a boxing and Pavlik challenge would probably fall in deaf ear. Abraham seems far too happy to line up the ham and eggers after another to take on a stern test after the MirandaI debacle.
Abraham would have lose if not for all the HELP he got from the REF....but Smurf did prove his toughness in that fight...
It will be 2 1/2 years since Wright last fought at middleweight, when he steps into the ring with Paul Williams and he´ll be 37. At least he had enough time to drop the extra weight, but we have seen what it has done to other old fighters. Therefore I don´t rate Winky at middleweight at all. Same goes for Mundine, who hasn´t fought a live body in three years, never at middleweight, and we still don´t know how much he is affected by his eye injury. I know they are/were good fighters, but they haven´t done a damn thing to be rated at middleweight at the moment.
Forrest is old, and would be outsized.....but he is still smart enough to give Pavlik some problems........Sturm wouldn't be a bad choice..... i dont' have any interest in seeing a Mora fight, and Duddy would only be acceptable as a tune up.....and after last night, i don't think two of those on the bounce is acceptable
i like pavlik/forrest. good fight imo. forrest has tons of experience and hs fought some of the best. he's not an elite fighter anymore, but he's a smart one who presumably could combat pavlik's style with angles, combinations and a good defense.
glaringly, there was no mention of wright. i think for the time being pavlik is determined to remain at 160 and stay away from 170 pound veteran stinkers. p.s. still can't belive pavlik's camp's claim of bronchitis and tendenidous is given no crediility. the story is, pavlik fought despite his liabilities since so many of his fans had driven so far to see him fight. "that's" the lesson hopkins taught him more than anything imo.
Its pretty clear if you follow boxing that Sturm, or more specifically Universum and Sturm, are a little less confident of their chances against Abraham than vice versa, and have squirmed out of negotiations/the possibility, each time it has been mooted (by Sauerland mostly)... unless pavlik, top rank or hbo decide to make it in 2009/2010, Abraham has little left at 160, Taylor is gone, Mundine has shown no sign of ambition at 160, Sturm simply won't fight him, Duddy wants the pavlik payday first, Wright wont go to germany and will likely not like the risk/reward ratio even if offered in the US, Williams could take it if he wins...then you're left with guys like ornelas, castillejo, griffin etc. who are regarded with disdain
"Rubio is one tough dude, he can take a lot of missed punches." MWS Pavlik is no Calzaghe, where he overcomes his sloppy style with quick hands, feet and a chin. :nono:
1. pavlik is not sloppy 2. pavlik compensates for his slow hand-speed with: 1. accuracy 2: combinations 3: heavy hands the funnypart, the part that discredits your post, is that pavlik hurts guys with punches even when they're, "blocked," you, or someone like you, can't be expected to understand this, so be cool, and watch and observe what you can. good luck!
After getting his ass kicked by Hops,..he deserved an easy title defense. Now, he should be concerned on taking on any of the major beltholders to unify the belts. And right now, Abraham is an undefeated champion with a big KO record,..and other than Hops and Taylor...has fought better competition than Kelley. Arum knows that he has a goldmine in Pavlik. A white champion with a good personality who FIGHTS! And he doesn't want to get Kelley beaten by a guy named Arthur Abraham. Not that I think he necessarily would,...but he is a better boxer with better speed,,..a good defense and good stamina AND can take a shot. To me,...he is the best challenge for Pavlik at this point,..but I can understand Arum at this point.
abraham isn't exactly fighting elite opposition either: In the 12-round ShoBox co-feature, Giovanni Lorenzo (26-1, 18 KOs), of New York City via the Dominican Republic, will meet Dionisio Miranda (19-3-2, 17 KO’s) of Barranquilla, Colombia, in an IBF middleweight elimination bout. The winner could be next in line to challenge champion Arthur Abraham.
