By Adam Laiolo: Hype is cruel, no doubt about that. It can build you up, unjustified, to the point where your bark becomes worse than your bite. And the fall from grace seems a lot higher when you’ve been hyped up for so long. Some people deal with it, don’t let it affect them in anyway. Others either believe it, or crumble under it. Believing your own hype is a dangerous move, especially when you should be able to be honest with yourself first and foremost.
Kelly Pavlik is just this. I’m not going to rant and rave about how poor Pavlik is, that’s not right, I’ve just got a few things to point to our American friends over the pond who sometimes live in a mental state bordering on delusional. Just why Kelly Pavlik has gone from nobody to THE best in the world in no time at all is down to one thing, American hype. The sheer size of the media can out do any other country. Let’s look at the facts. Record: 34-0 (30 KO’s) is an outstanding record with no blemishes and a high knockout rate, not bettered by many at this time. A quick scan down Pavlik’s undefeated record shows only two fighters of any kind of class, Edison Miranda and Jermain Taylor.
First Taylor fight, Pavlik was rocked everywhere and nearly went good night in the second round. Only poor finishing from Jermain Taylor let Pavlik get back into it. And we’ve all now discovered what an average fighter Taylor really was now, so even that takes the shine off it. Granted Miranda is a good fighter too, but again, this guy couldn’t finish off someone with a broken jaw. So that leaves Gary Lockett, I wouldn’t know him if I fell over him and because he’s Calzaghe’s stable mate for some strange reason America believes Calzaghe’s scared after seeing that. With all due respect to Lockett, he’s not even in the same class as top British fighters never mind someone like Joe Calzaghe.
Talk about cherry picking? So was Gary Lockett a credible opponent for a middleweight world champion? America is where the moneys at yes, but not where the talents at. Talent comes from all over the world, America can just market it and promote it the best. America moan about fighters from Europe staying in their own country and not coming out to face them. Sorry what? Sounds like double standards to me. Mikkel Kessler is an example of a fearless and proven fighter that no American fighter will touch, too high risk low reward. 50,000 people watched Kessler vs. Calzaghe at the Millennium Stadium. America hasn’t had a crowd like that in years. If it wasn’t for box office numbers America can produce, we’d be seeing fights from all over the world.
If they aren’t American, they aren’t proven - or so the theory goes. Look at the nationalities of the world champions, diverse isn’t it? And that’s exactly the reason Kelly Pavlik is being over hyped by America, America needs a white superstar to dominate a division and reignite an interest in a sport falling behind UFC and MMA. America needs Kelly Pavlik to succeed and dominate, so much so it blinds them to his obvious frailties with his chin and technical ability. Kelly needs Joe Calzaghe for that, but Joe needs Kelly to rid the doubters of their ammunition.
Maybe Joe will do what he’s always done, been the underdog with little or no respect and beating someone he’s expected to lose to. No doubt though if and when Pavlik is beaten by Joe, America will tell us all that’s not their best, he wasn’t that good and they were just testing us (Jeff Lacy anyone?). America needs a hero, we’ll see if Pavlik’s up to the test.
October 13th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
how about zuniga, zertuche and bronco mccart. He has been brought about at a perfect pace, building him up to his fight with Taylor. He’s got very few real middleweight contenders to challenge him and he’s only 27
October 13th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
i do think pavlik is over hyped hes good but to think hes in calzaghes class is madness i agree with this article but there is plenty of time to improve and if calzaghe was 2 fight him it would destroy his 5 mins of fame let him enjoy it and soon enough some one will come along and stop him (hopfuly hopkins) , kely just stop mouthing off
October 13th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
i think pavlik is a great fighter but is 4 defo overhyped.
October 13th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
keep in mind it took him so many rounds to wear down miranda and king arty took him out basically with 3 punches
October 13th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
Yeah, I bet you thought Mayweather was over hyped too. Took out your boy Hatton pretty easily!
October 14th, 2008 at 1:59 am
Cant agree with much of the article except hype is cruel. Pavlik is very capable and incidentally has a better record than David Haye now there’s hype. Pavlik never shouts his mouth off and I believe would get in the ring and do a good job on anybody of course he has some way to go hes young but has all the tools to get better. I think he could take Calzaghe who I think will be beaten by Jones. Either way its all good for boxing. Very disappointed to note that there was almost no reporting of any boxing in the British national press on a world title fight, that’s were we are, sad.
October 14th, 2008 at 5:20 am
So why is calzaghe dodging palvik because calzaghe only boxers over the hill likes of a hopkins thts done and jones thats done fight pavlik he wil beat calzaghe
October 14th, 2008 at 7:20 am
After Saturday it’ll be pretty evident that Pavlik has bitten off more than he can chew. On the same token Hatton bit off far more than he could chew with Mayweather. Calzaghe would have lost against Hopkins and Jones 10 years ago.
I think the general thinking in America however is that Pavlik has the beating of Calzaghe which in my eyes is almost laughable; the same country that said the exact same thing about Lacy. Bias takes over sensible thought unfortunately on boxing forums. I give Pavlik more of a chance, but Joe is a level above Pavlik, the same way a prime Roy is a level above Joe.
October 14th, 2008 at 7:36 am
Adam , brilliant article mate , very very accurate , however even you would have to agree that no country sells or markets sports like America , example Sky Sports (Nicky Piper , Jonny Nelson) etc etc or HBO , HBO every time im afraid , Cage Rage or UFC , again UFC every time .
European fighters need to leave Europe early if possible and setup in America if they want to go down as legends thats just the way boxing cooky crumbles im afraid , and ill be honest with out America boxing would be a lot more dull and less appealing so keep it up boys !!!!
And a little comment on Sevlow’s point , Roy Jones won world titles at Middle , Light Heavy and Heavy , he won them titles against Hopkins , Mcallum and Ruiz , there has never been a considered legend who has cherry picked opponents the way he did ever , he ducked Calzaghe and Steve Collins for years he also ducked Michalczewski the un defeated WBO Light heavy weight champion at the time .
Adam once again a great article keep them comin buddy !!!!
October 14th, 2008 at 7:51 am
Somebody please explain why we need to be in constant competition with Americans??? Cant we all just admire good boxers?? Haye and Pavlik are fantastic up and coming boxers with the world at there feet. Calzaghe, Roy Jones, Hatton and Mayweather are all awsome boxers and are a credit to boxing
Why cant you all just agree???? Lets make love not war ha ha
October 14th, 2008 at 9:04 am
A great article but it is not just american fighters that are over hyped its the name of the game to put bums on seats.
October 14th, 2008 at 9:18 am
I´m suprised that Calzaghe nerver get´s the truly credit he deserves. After every big win, people are suprised that he won so easy (for exampel Lacy & Kessler). But after a while people starting to underestimate hom again. I mean Kessler are probebly better than todays Roy Jones. Before the fight with Hopkins, everybody talked about how fantastic Hopkins still is even that he is old. After the fight everybody saying he old and not so good anymoore.
October 14th, 2008 at 9:46 am
Just wondering if Calzaghe was a black fighter I don’t think he would of had so much praise going for him. Just waiting to see if he is what he thinks he is. I know he is up against over the hill Jones, but get ready Calzaghe fans for a rude awakening easy to start believing your own hyped joe will have his 0 erased with a L make no mistake about that wer talking about Roy jones never mind if he’s over the hill class will tell.
October 14th, 2008 at 10:39 am
Finally, amongst all the complaints I see about how padded Calzaghe’s record is, someone has the gumption to question Pavlik’s.
I really fail to see how Pavlik is in the top 3 of all these lb-4-lb ratings I see. He’s not even undisputed middleweight king IMHO. Arthur Abraham’s presence is more than enough to question the assumption that Pavlik is the best. What about Sturm as well? While half the titles are held by other fighters, I can’t honestly describe Pavlik as middleweight king.
What do people think would happen if Felix Sturm and Abraham fought? I don’t if boxing politics would prevent this though, maybe so? Assuming the titles were unified, there would even more reason for Pavlik not to be credited with the tag.
What if Winky Wright comes back down to middleweight? Surely he’s another legitimate contender having only lost to Hopkins in the last few years?Incidentally, why has he been out of action for so long? Surely a keep-busy fight would have been better than getting on for 18 months out?
Apart from Jermain Taylor, a good boxer but not as good a fighter, and Edison Miranda, Pavlik has not faced top level fighters. Bronko McCart was past his best, Zuniga and Zertuche are not top level.
Returning to Calzaghe for a moment, what I’d like to know is which of his title defences were mandatory and which were not. From his first defence against Branko Sobot all the way to his last pre-unification defence, against Evans Ashira. If anyone is genuinely knowledgeable on this subject, then I’d be very interested to see a disection of Calzaghe’s record.
October 14th, 2008 at 10:59 am
pavlik is no challenge fopr Calzaghe! End of subject.
October 14th, 2008 at 11:38 am
oh ok, dont listen to me!! Keep argueing amongst yourselfs about something you simply cant prove!! Is it wrong to Be a huge Haye fan, Be a massive Calzaghe fan but also think Pavlik is fantastic???
Do I have to “pick sides”???
October 14th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
in my opinion pavlik might be a good fighter or what people hope to see from him in the future. he is not even close to the hype he is getting.
That said this hype shifted pavliks mentality from improving and proving he is “the” middle weight champion by facing other champions in that devision to believing the media hype and going for big cash fights. who is better in the business at this than bob arum when it comes to hype?(gatti/cotto)
this over hyped the kid too much .. could he have had a chance against someone as great as calzaghe ? maybe. but i seriously doubt it now. he just stepped into the elite boxers level now with many questions unanswered and still needs exp fighting in this ladder.. just like he did before getting here.
like the ones before pavlik who could have been great but got washed up by the hype and the high expectations people prematurely believed they had.
judging from the past pavlik is a knock out waiting to happen.
October 14th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Pavlik is a knockout artist and we americans love those type of fighters,not piti-paters like calzaghe or loud mouths like haye.Soooooooooooooo stop hating!
October 14th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
pavlik will loose sat ! fact !
October 15th, 2008 at 3:46 am
Golden Fan…. Are you saying David Haye isnt a knockout artist?? Look at his record you fool!!!!
October 15th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
YO F-Force David is untested in the U.S.A. and when he does get tested he will crumble like an old cookie thereby being exposed to the world.Why do you think he keeps calling out the big names out there without deserving it? Because he knows he has to cash out before he is ridiculed by a class c fighter so talk with your brains not with your heart.
October 16th, 2008 at 7:35 am
Ok Golden Fan lets just wait and see. Just for the record I am a fan of Pavlik. Really looking forward to the fight on saturday in my opinion its too close to call!! But I do admire Pavlik he is a good young boxer. Just a shame alot of people dont admire boxers because of how they box - its all down to which country they were born in!!! (if Haye was American he would be hyped up to hell)
October 16th, 2008 at 10:18 am
pavlik is the most overrated fighter out there, and only because he is american, i cant wait for calzaghe to beat pavlik, he will rip him apart.
October 18th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
adam thats a great article. i’ll look forward to reading your next one