Ethan Miller - Getty Images
Kelly Pavlik is taking his time with his comeback, and says that a couple of tune-up fights will come first. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Former world middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik says that he's not looking for a long series of tune-up fights, and is already thinking about fighting some of the big names at middleweight, where he may eventually return. From Luis Sandoval:
"I think the next fight will be around 168 but I talked with Robert [Garcia] and Cecilio [Flores], my personal trainer, and 160 is not out of the question still. ... There’s still a lot of intriguing fights at middleweight. You got [Sergio] Martinez who I’d give anything if I could do it the right way and make weight the right way to fight him again. Or [Julio Cesar] Chavez. Man, I’d take that fight in a heartbeat. I’d cut my leg off if I had to."
I know it's just talk and it's all early, but every time Pavlik has a chance to talk, or just be photographed, he seems a lot different working out in Oxnard with the Garcia team. Time will tell -- I'm certainly not counting the chickens before they hatch, but this was a huge step for his boxing career, and hopefully it pays off.
Pavlik says he'd like two tune-up fights at the most before getting back in with the big dogs at either 160 or 168. It's been almost a year since his last fight, a rocky win over Alfonso Lopez, and months now since he abruptly canceled an August fight on ShoBox, which was to lead to a fight in November with Lucian Bute.
In late September, Pavlik seemed to return to his senses, apologizing for "horrible decisions" and offering to fight for low money just to get back in the ring. Not long after that, he parted ways with Jack Loew, the only trainer he's ever had, and headed out to Oxnard.
It's a process. Kelly Pavlik may never become lineal middleweight champ of the world, but I do know both the middleweight and super middleweight divisions would be better off with a healthy, dedicated Kelly Pavlik in the mix. So keep your fingers crossed, and good luck to Kelly.
0 recs | 18 comments
I have a better idea: How about a reasonably long, say 4 or 5. series of tune-up fights? Just to, maybe, re-establish a lifestyle and pattern?
I’m a little sceptical, I guess.
DrRck - February 15, 2012
Well, he’s turning 30 in April and I think he’s itching to get back to where he was — he says he doesn’t want to take five tune-ups (says that specifically), but I think he could be talked into that by Dunkin or Arum or duBoef or Garcia if they feel that’s really the right course of action. Right now he seems on a legitimate boxing high; I think he wants to prove he’s not a flameout as soon as he can.
Scott Christ - February 15, 2012
I think a focused Kelly Pavlik knocks JCC Jr. out. He’s a guy who gave Sergio all he could handle while going through some serious personal problems. The talent is there. I wish him the best of luck.
Sammlung - February 15, 2012
My logic there is that Kelly in his prime handled guys who came right at him very well. Chavez is also always there to be hit so I think he’s tailor made for Pavlik.
Sammlung - February 15, 2012
OK. Let’s say (which means, just me saying) 2 or three fights, perhaps over 1 – 1 1/2 years?
I’m sure that he has all the faith in himself that there is, but I think this comeback is not just a matter of Pavlik’s profession.
Let’s say he has three good matchups, wins the first, loses the second, and then comes back to win the third. Or loses the first two and wins the third. The matchups might be shady and snaky promoter shell games, but they would still speak volumes about Pavlik’s resurrection.
He should have a series of fights, and ideally lose at least one and then come back, because with my infinite wisdom, I know with metaphysical certainty that if he walks back into a boxing world that seems to hold nothing but success, this will not turn out well for him.
He’s a good boxer, and I enjoyed watching him. I’d like to see him again.
DrRck - February 15, 2012
He needs to stay away from SMW
Maybe I’m not giving him enough credit, but IMO he loses to Ward, Bute, Kessler, Froch, and Dirrell.
Frankly, I think its a tossup if he even beats McGee, Johnson or Oouisthousen (sp?) at this point.
I'm going slightly mad - February 15, 2012
“I hope we don’t see a fight he might lose.”
Scott Christ - February 15, 2012
Who are you quoting?
Not me. I’d love to see Pavlik in with Froch, Kessler or Bute. Those fights would be fun as hell.
I'm going slightly mad - February 15, 2012
DON’T TELL ME WHO I’M QUOTING!
Nah but seriously I agree, I just thought you were saying, like, “I hope he doesn’t fight at super middleweight, he’ll lose,” rather than, “It would be in his best interests, in my opinion, to stay at middleweight if he can.” I get you now.
Scott Christ - February 15, 2012
You’re going slightly mad.
Oli Goldstein - February 15, 2012
Ha.
Why do you say that though? What has Pavlik ever shown at 168 that leads you to believe he takes those guys?
I'm going slightly mad - February 15, 2012
Not much, really – I just feel pretty strongly that I’ve seen enough of Pavlik at 160 to believe that he’d be able to translate to 168 just about well enough to beat this Glen Johnson and Brian Magee, good fighters though they may be. I don’t think Glen could handle the pace Pavlik (traditionally) fights at; same with Magee, really, where I think Pavlik’s height and pressure would be pretty critical in forcing the Irishman on the back foot. Anyway, I don’t really think you were being particularly outlandish – I just couldn’t resist saying that given your name!
Oli Goldstein - February 15, 2012
I’m probably America’s biggest Brian Magee supporter. I’d give him a legit shot with Pavlik. He’d have beaten last May’s Pavlik, like, 7-3 over 10 rounds.
Scott Christ - February 15, 2012
I want to believe that Pavlik is on the right track but there have been so many false ‘this time I am really focused’ stories going out over the last 18 months. A healthy Kelly Pavlik is a top 5 guy at 160 and top 10 at 168. An unhealthy Pavlik is a guy that Top Rank can milk for one last big fight (probably vs Chavez) before he ends of on the scrap heap.
Eoin_not_ian - February 15, 2012
Ergo, 2 or 3 or 4 more fights before any more “big names.”
I think you’re right.
DrRck - February 15, 2012
Has Kelly taken the first of twelve steps back to recovery
pakinpower - February 16, 2012
Let's see how Kelly looks in his next fight
If Froch loses to Bute badly in Nottingham in April/May, a fight with Froch in Nottingham in the early September/October could make sense.
rantcatrat - February 16, 2012
Best of luck to him
Hopefully he can get his shit together this time.
erod - February 16, 2012
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