Arum thinks a Pavlik win over Martinez will restore Kelly’s luster in the middleweight division
April 10th, 2010
By Chris Williams: WBC/WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik (36-1, 32 KO’s) lost a lot of his stature in the middleweight division after being badly beaten by then 44-year-old Bernard Hopkins in 2008. Pavlik has since been trying to win back fans with fights against Marco Antonio Rubio and Miguel Espino. However, those opponents didn’t have the name value to erase the image of Pavlik getting schooled by Hopkins. On April 17th, Pavlik will be facing one of the best opponents of his 10-year pro career when he faces Sergio Martinez (44-2-2, 24 KO’s) at the Boardwalk Hall, in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Arum is right in part about boxing fans wanting to see knockout punchers like Pavlik, but I think he’s missing the boat badly by saying that fans will be clamoring to see Pavlik against “somebody.” We’ve already seen Pavlik against somebody with his fights against Rubio, Gary Lockett and Espino, and the fans haven’t been beating down Pavlik’s door to pour praise over his head.
I just hope that if Pavlik gets by Martinez on April 17th that this doesn’t wind up as excuse to match him against fighters that boxing fans could care less about. Pavlik hasn’t had much choice in some of his defense of his title, but I think its hurt him by not facing fighters that the boxing public wants to see him against. Obviously, Pavlik’s fights against Rubio, Lockett and Espino haven’t done anything to endear him to the average fan, so hopefully Arum doesn’t match him against more fodder in the middleweight division.
I think fights against Williams or Bute would be outstanding fights, as would having Pavlik pitted against the eventual winner of the Super Six tournament. But I don’t think the boxing public will be interested in seeing Pavlik matched up against the winner of the Julio Cesar Chavez vs. John Duddy bout, something I’ve been hearing as a potential fight for Pavlik in the future. And I also doubt that fans will want to see Pavlik against fellow Top Rank fighter Winky Wright.
I think that would have been a good fight years ago, but Wright hasn’t been busy enough in the past four years and was soundly beaten by Paul Williams last year. Arum needs to start putting Pavlik in with better fighters, ones that are more popular with fans. It might be a risky thing for him to do, because Pavlik could lose like he did against Hopkins, but that’s what Arum needs to do to restore the luster that Pavlik lost in his defeat to Hopkins.
Arum says “The 168 pound guys are the middleweights of the 1980s, and I think Kelly, when he cleans out the middleweight division, will go up to 168 pounds and there is a lot of competition there.” I doubt that Pavlik will beat Williams, and I also have serious doubts about Pavlik beating Martinez on April 17th. However, if Pavlik does get to the super middleweight division, I see him having big problems with guys like Arthur Abraham, Andre Ward, Mikkel Kessler and Andre Dirrell.
Those guys aren’t fighters that can be taken out by simple 1-2 combinations and a little pressure. Pavlik is going to have to up his game and develop some more skills if he’s going to be anything other than a contender at super middleweight. I frankly don’t think he’s the best middleweight right now, and would be very surprised if he “cleans out the middleweight division” like Arum says.
Tags: 12 Responses to “Arum thinks a Pavlik win over Martinez will restore Kelly’s luster in the middleweight division”
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I’m not a big fan of either fighter but definitely looking forward to this fight. Perhaps this will re-establish Pavlik if he wins, but I feel most people will just say he beat a smaller man like he was suppose to. But hopefully it will be a good fight. I’m not sure Martinez will slug it out with Pavlik the way he did with Williams however.
Props to Team Pavlik for finally taking on a decent fighter. The question is whether or not his trainers have taught him how to beat technical fighters…Hopkins beat him easily using some fairly basic moves — feinting, clinching and lateral movement. Kelly spent that whole fight trying to set up his right hand, and was made to look slow and disoriented when he couldn’t find the target.
Martinez represents a difficult challenge for Pavlik, though not nearly as tough as B-Hop if Sergio chooses to fight the same way as he did with Paul Williams. Martinez tends to move to good angles and is extremely fast, but is available to be hit as well b/c he throws occasional bombs. Sergio’s keys to winning are to fight smart and keep away from Pavlik’s slow but powerful combinations. Let Pavlik throw one punch, then quick counter and clinch or move away. If he uses his speed and movement, Martinez will take a UD. If he fights Pavlik’s fight then a Pavlik KO is a possibility. My take on the fight….
well if everybody would take the time to look at Pavliv/Williams press conference picture you will see his messed up, red, nasty looking hand. And if Williams is as good as people say he is, would you face him not feeling 100%. Why should Williams be given that advantage. Risk my Career that i’ve worked hard for all my life just to please your judgmental A@@. Pavlik will Quiet the masses with the loud thump of his hands.
@mike… The tournmt has far better competition than any thing Pav is facin lately, your a fool 2 call these guys B level fighters, when all Pav does is face C level fighters (espino, rubio, etc) can’t wait for martinez 2 hand him his ass & send his lame ass 2 journey man status, 2 call him a star just shows ur ignorance… Yeah P-will had a chance 2 fight Pav but did u forget Pav made excuse after lame ass excuse (staph infection twice, groin, hands, yeast infection etc) 2 avoid P-will, & instead fights a no namer just 2 weeks after pullin out of P-will fight
He ducked PW with a fake staph infection and I don’t know what the other 2 excuses where…now he’s taking on the guy that took the Paul to the complete limit…Sergio/Paul to on the horizion.
Pavlik is mismanaged talent. After he KO’d Miranda and Taylor, he was managed like an old veteran looking for a big money fight, rather than a young lion looking to make his legacy. Pavlik would have made more money taking the young lion route. Now, he lost his edge.
Pavlik is the #1 middleweight in the world. Why would he go up to 168 to join a super middleweight tournament to fight B+ fighters. The super six is great but Pavlik is number #1 in his division and a star in boxing unlike any of the super six boxers. They are all great but Pavlik is The man.
Where is Paul Williams?? I would be ok with Pavlik fighting Williams after Martinez then going up to 168 if he wants to. NO rush though. Another year or two at 160 would be good until some one does what he did–challenge the champ and take his belt! And lets not forget that he gave Jermain Taylor a rematch and beat him again.
Martinez is talented, and slick. Defense is key on April 17th.
Pavlic is going to knock Martinez within 8 rounds!
Kelly is a good fighter but do you notice he’s not in the super six. He wants no parts of Arthur Abraham or Ward. He got beat by Bernard hopkins. He’s good but not great, Martinez is going to out box him.
I seriously think people underestimate kelly pavlik
You don’t get a record of 36-1 32KO’s by accident. people on this website just don’t give him credit he is a classic fighter with KO power his style weather you like it or not is good.
You know what he is gonna do but what happens when his powerful 1 , 2 blasts you straight for 12 rounds it’s flat out hard to stop.
Kelly your about to get your ass kick! I know for a fact the Sergio is going to win, he’s faster than Kelly and has better lateral movement, and Sergio is a better boxer than Kelly we all saw what he did against The Punisher Paul Willamws in which the fight shoud’ve been a draw. I guess what I’m trying to say is Kelly The Ghost Pavlik will not be champion anymore come April 17th.
I agree with you Chris Williams. Nice and balanced article.