Pavlik may have to fight Martinez again to regain credibility
April 22nd, 2010
By Sean McDaniel: Whether former WBC/WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik (36-2, 32 KO’s) likes it or not, he may very well have to fight a rematch with newly crowned WBC/WBO middleweight champion Sergio Martinez (45-2-2, 24 KO’s) to recapture credibility with boxing fans. Pavlik, 28, has lost a lot of status with his disappointing 12 round unanimous decision defeat to the 35-year-old Martinez last weekend on April 17th because of how decisive the loss was. This wasn’t just the first time that Pavlik had taken a pounding.
Hopkins took a lot of the mystique away from Pavlik with his victory over him in 2008, and Pavlik wasn’t helped by having a lack of popular opposition to face in his title defenses. Last Saturday night, Pavlik, 6’2”, went into the fight a favorite by many boxing fans because of his bigger size compared to the 5’10” Martinez. However, Pavlik had immediate problems in the first four rounds with the quickness and movement from Martinez.
Pavlik wasn’t throwing enough punches and seemed to be waiting too long to let his hands go when Martinez would come in punching range. In the meantime, Pavlik fell behind in the fight. He came back in rounds five though eight, knocking Martinez down with a short right hand at one point. However, Martinez turned it up in the last four rounds to pull away from Pavlik, who by then was cut over both eyes and having a hard time seeing through all the blood that was dripping into both of his eyes.
The cuts may have hindered Pavlik to a certain degree, but they clearly weren’t the reason he lost to Martinez. Perhaps the biggest reasons Pavlik lost was that he didn’t throw enough punches, had problems with the movement from Martinez and came into the fight far too heavy at 178. That was way too much weight for Pavlik to be carrying around against an elusive fighter like Martinez. Pavlik will have to make corrections in his dieting and training if he plans on staying at middleweight and fighting Martinez again.
No matter how many changes he makes to his offense and defense, if Pavlik comes in at 178 or higher, he’ll probably lose again. However, he’s going to have to fight Martinez again if he wants to quiet his critics and regain what he’s lost in the way of credibility. Pavlik has a rematch clause in his contract with Martinez, so he won’t have to waste time working his way back into a title shot. The question is whether Pavlik will want to take the risk of fighting Martinez again and potentially getting beaten.
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Noel has an excelant point on making weight,or having to trim too much to fast.the idea is to stay in fighting shape all of the time. Hey just think if arreola fought at 290 he might have knocked the Poll,out of the ring,with a heavy forearm.
If Pavlik manages his weight before the start of training camp then he’ll win a re-match. The weight cutting and subsequent bloating was the main factor. HBO said he weighed 178 on fight night. Extreme weight Cutting and then bloating is like fighting a 40 round fight the day before you fight a 12 round fight. He just needs to control the weight factor. But really, Pavlik is bigger framed and taller than all the super-middles, the light heavy’s and the cruiserweight Champs. He’s the tallest Middleweight Champion in the division’s 120 year history. So, really, he just might be too big for the division. But the main question is whether or not he can commit to a 12 week weight trim down plan that gives him the opportunity to relax the day before the fight instead of cutting extreme amounts of weight.
To lordindra3: The point you miss is how easy the fight would be because of Pavlik’s inability to handle fighters that worked the angles. and moved. I expect Paul’s trainer to be honest like he has always been past. He didn’t anticipate a tough rugged fight like others because of Pavlik’s stryle. Everyone I spoke to gives Pavlik credit for being a puncher but that’s it.
actualy, Kelly can throw many more punches than he did in many opportunitys. He needs to practice cutting the ring off ,and then give 200percent, even punching when Martinez clinched would have discouraged the argentine mover.Kelly could have done damage, by pulling his arms loose and bangung. Kellty can beat Martinez with an all out training effort and all out desire to win. More of the same won,t cut it.He needs to get angry.
First – GO TO REHAB – then – fight again. Don’t f*ck with your health, you’re mentally done, and probably have a history of abusing yourself.
I think a rematch is just a plain bad idea. Sergio is going to whitewash Kelly all over again.
Pavlik has to go back to the drawing board and learn what he does not have, what is the point of making the same mistake Mosley and others made? Feel sorry for the guy but there is a point where you have to decide in watching a boxing bout or a one sided beat-up, I choose option A
pavlik needs to regain his sobriety.
@Boxing Don- Did you think WIlliams trainer was going to say “Yeah, Paul would get his ass kicked by Pavlik, no question…”??? Cummon, thats not a good point to make. Pavlik has always said that he would have an easier time with Williams than Martinez. I want to see Williams vs Pavlik more than a rematch with Martinez, but I know he has to fight Martinez to gain his credibility and IF HE DOES WIN, then I tell Kelly to NOT fight Martinez for a 3rd match because then Ill be scared.
How can he regain credibility. He comes forward with no head movement and throws a jab and a straight right.(as the boxing don already stated) This is why my favorite style of boxer to watch is a boxer guys like pavlik and trinidad who are all power will always get exposed by a boxer becasue they cant handle movement the only way they can get to you is for you to stahd still. Start boxing intelligiently, move your feet(its not running is using your brain) and you will give them problem all day. This aint gonna be the last time he gets schooled watch.
Kelly can take it if he wants but i can’t see it being any different unless kelly lands a lottery punch. I think martinez has his number.
I had a conversation with a trainer named George Peterson (Paul Williams trainer) shortly after Pavlik beat Taylor in the rematch. I ask him what about Paul Williams fighting Pavlik? George responded by saying “It would be like taking candy from a baby”. I ask how and he begin to tell me how Pavlik cannot handle movement and someone who uses angles. He said he was a one two fighter. B-Hop saw the same thing. Pavlik didn’t have a off night against B-Hop, he was exposed. George wanted Paul to get to him first, but B-Hop beat them to Pavlik. Mr. Kelly can’t handle someone who moves and works the angles. My hat goes off to you George Peterson, you called it before most in the world recognized it.