By Richard McNamara: I don’t know about everyone else but I feel 2009 has been a damn good year for boxing, with some excellent match ups, some surprise outcomes and lets face it some dubious and shocking decisions, both domestically and internationally across the globe. However I think there is one fighter who could not be happier to see 2009 come to an end, and that my friends is Kelly Pavlik, it‘s not been his best.

It began with him having to answer a lot of questions about his ability, heart and determination, after his frightfully one sided decision loss to the “Executioner” Bernard Hopkins, back in 2008. In that fight he was simply never in it from the off, found no rhythm and was brutally exposed. Maybe moving up in weight had affected him badly? Maybe it was his health? Or had Hopkins laid down the blueprint to defeating the hard hitting middleweight champion?

Opinion is divided and since then even more questions have now been raised about his health (a persistent Staph infection), his personal life (rumours of substance abuse) and his willingness to face top opposition such as Paul Williams, after the aforementioned Staph infection in his hand, had twice forced him to pull out of scheduled bouts against Williams.

On Saturday night or early hours Sunday morning depending where you live, Kelly Pavlik stepped into the ring to face Miguel Espino stopping the very game but somewhat over matched challenger in the fifth round. Espino took the fight to Pavlik from the start and forced the champ into close up warfare. Some would say not the right tactics for Espino to adopt against Pavlik, as you could have put them in one of those tiny hotel lifts and it would have been big enough for the fight to take place, venue and all!

This obviously suited the bigger man in Pavlik and as the it drew on, Pavlik’s power wore Espino down and forced his trainer, to make the right decision and throw in the towel. I’ll be the first to admit it was entertaining fight and the Youngstown fans got their money’s worth at the Beeghly Centre, but did Pavlik achieve anything from this fight or prove anything to his doubters? You could say he shook off a little ring rust but nothing more, Espino technically was not going to ask questions of Pavlik and as entertaining as the fight may have been Pavlik answered very few.

Some might say Espino was very effective in the opening 3 rounds, maybe a little too effective? Could Pavlik withstand an opening onslaught from Paul Williams? Either way 2010 may look a little brighter for him. Bob Arum has been quoted as saying “I say this to those loud mouths with Williams, just initial the contract and we’ll do it first thing next year” If that is the case 2010 will present Pavlik with an opportunity to answer some of the questions being asked and maybe kick start a slightly faltering career after the Hopkins defeat.

Opinions always welcome.