By Dan Ambrose: Photo credit: Tom Casino/Showtime – Unbeaten super middleweight prospect Alfonso Lopez (21-0, 16 KO’s) sees former WBC/WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik (36-2, 32 KO’s) as being the one with all the pressure on him in Saturday’s fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. 28-year-old Lopez is little known, unlike Pavlik, who comes into this fight known by most boxing fans and coming off of one year of inactivity and a stint in the Betty Ford clinic to treat an alcohol problem.

Pavlik was beaten in his last fight by Sergio Martinez. Pavlik’s promoter Bob Arum didn’t want to match him tough, but wanted someone that would still be relatively tough. For this reason, the unknown Lopez was picked out for Pavlik.

In an article at the tribtoday.com, Lopez, speaking about all the pressure that is on Pavlik fight this fight, said “I think it gives me an edge. It helps me psychologically. I don’t have to feel so much pressure. I think the pressure is on him. If boxing doesn’t work out for me I have a lot of other things on the backburner.”

Lopez is right about the pressure being on Pavlik, but even if he loses this fight and his career is over. Pavlik made a lot of money and he’s going to be okay. It’s not like his whole life will be up in smoke if he loses. But the chances of that happening about slim and none. Lopez isn’t in Pavlik’s class and pressure or not, Pavlik is still mow down Lopez in this fight. We’re talking different levels here.