By Dan Ambrose: Promoter Bob Arum says that former WBC/WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik (36-2, 32 KO’s) could be fighting on the undercard of the May 7th bout between Manny Pacquiao vs. Shane Mosley at the MGM Grand, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Pavlik, 28, hasn’t fought since losing his titles to Sergio Martinez last year in April.

Pavlik was supposed to fight on Pacquiao’s last undercard last year, but backed out of the card to enter alcohol rehab. Pavlik was recently released from the rehab center and is currently training and looking to get back in the ring. May 7th would be the ideal time and spot for Pavlik to make his appearance. He’s still ranked high in the middleweight division and would almost immediately be a threat to any of the champions.

Martinez is no longer the WBC champion after having been put into the emeritus position by the WBC. This should make things easier for Pavlik when he starts looking to take on one of the champions. But first things first. Pavlik needs one, perhaps two, tune-up fights to get back his timing and get ready to take on some of the better fighters. He was previously going to fight Bryan Vera on the undercard of Pacquiao vs. Antonio Margarito. You can bet that Pavlik will be taking on someone along the same lines in terms of quality if he winds up on the Pacquiao-Mosley undercard.

Pavlik has the better to give anyone in the division problems. The issue for Pavlik is to get his weight down to where he’s not having to take off massive amounts of weight before the weigh-in through the loss of water weight.