Pavlik-Martinez: Is it time for a new middleweight champion?
April 8th, 2010
By Chris Williams: WBC/WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik (36-1, 32 KO’s) has had three years to show his stuff as a champion and he’s been a major disappointment to many boxing fans, and not just because of all the missed fight due to his hand infection. Pavlik’s opposition has been mediocre at best. Pavlik has made the most of the situation beating what’s been fed to him, but I have seen Pavlik matched against any one interesting when he didn’t have a mandatory defense.
Instead, boxing fans have had to sit through mismatches between Pavlik, Gary Lockett, Marco Antonio Rubio and Miguel Espino. Pavlik also fought Bernard Hopkins and got beaten badly by him. That loss was a big one for Pavlik, because that was the only really good opponent that Pavlik faced in the three years – besides a rematch against Taylor – that he’s held the title and he ended losing it.
The one fight that might have gone a long ways towards turning all that around was Pavlik’s planned fight with Paul Williams. But that fight went up in smoke after Pavlik’s lingering hand infection wiped out two fights. Williams, tired of waiting for Pavlik’s hand to heal, went in another direction and fought Martinez, beating him by a 12 round decision. Pavlik, for his part, took yet another easy fight, beating Espino.
Pavlik is now fighting his best opponent but doing it against a smaller fighter in light middleweight Martinez. With watching all of Pavlik’s boring fights the past three years and the fights that haven’t materialized, like Pavlik vs. Arthur Abraham and Pavlik vs. Felix Sturm, I’m not wondering if it would be a good thing if Martinez beats Pavlik. We would get some new blood and a fighter that hopefully would be willing to take on some interesting opponents.
In the past year, Martinez has fought arguably better opposition than Pavlik did in the past three years combined, if you take Hopkins out of the equation. I think Martinez will be an excellent champion if he can get the title. He seems like a fighter that is will to take on all comers no matter what. He proved that by stepping up against the 6’1” Williams and fighting him to a standstill last year in December. Martinez first has to get by Pavlik.
Martinez has to stay in motion the way that Hopkins did in his win over Pavlik. If Martinez stands in front of Pavlik for too long, he’s going to take a lot of unnecessary punishment and end up dropped. But if Martinez can stay on the move, the only thing he’ll have to worry about his Pavlik’s jab, which isn’t all that good. Martinez will pick Pavlik apart if he stays on the move and show how slow Kelly is. I think Martinez can do everything that Hopkins did in his win over Pavlik. There really hasn’t been any changes in Pavlik’s fighting style. He still comes at his opponents in straight lines, still plods around the ring and still has a limited offensive arsenal, which is most left-right combinations.
Tags: 10 Responses to “Pavlik-Martinez: Is it time for a new middleweight champion?”
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I agree with with the writer! Pavlik has dissapointed as a fan so therefore i got Martinez but no matter who wins Williams should be next!
Pavlick is in for a very long night,or a very short one against Martinez. THIs by far the best fighter he has faced and one of the best in the business. Bye bye Kelley… and I am a kelley fan
Martinez is far too quick and skilled for Pavlik, yes, Pavlik has power, but not much more than that. We’ve all seen, that if Pavlik’s opponent can avoid the jab right-hand combination, then there really isn’t anything else he can do. Martinez just needs to use his superior movement, so Pavlik isn’t able to set his feet and generate any power. If he can stay on the move, use his hand speed and movement to fustrate Pavlik, then I can definately see Martinez winning by unanimous decision.
pavlik wins with in 7 rounds/ pavlik as the under dog suits him fine
Martinez will totally dominate the fight with Pavlik. He has better movement. Doesn’t run, just pivots his body and gives different angles, which is going to be very difficult for Pavlik. I don’t think Pavlik has ever faced a fighter like Martinez. Martinez KO in 10 rounds.
Yes is the time for a new champion, Pavlik won’t be able to handle Martinez’ speed and he is a lefty, so Pavlik has to deal with that style that he never faced before, because don’t tell me that Bronco Mc Kart was something tough at the time they met. Martinez wins and becomes the new champ.
If you ask me Martinez handed Paul a beating that he’ll never forget. Martinez vs. Paul was a draw and Paul didn’t beat Martinez like he did those other guy’s he fought in the past. The Fight is the fight of the year in 2009. Martinez vs. Paul was a draw or it should of when to Martinez. Paul is good and he’s a Champion but to me he’s a real Middleweight boxer.
When Pavlik gets a taste of Martinez Welterweight power, Pavlik gonna attack without worry. Martinez is gonna catch him with plenty of shots without a doubt. But in the end there will be another win, and another KO will be added to Pavliks record. Here power will prevail.
Whoever wins this fight better fight Paul Williams. That would be a great match up.
A new championwill be good. Martinez comes acroos as i guy that will take on anybody, and if he beats Pavlik the middleweight division will certainly become more interesting.