By Mark Vester

It seems there is a small chance that a fight between Bernard Hopkins and Paul Williams could happen at 168 - if the right money is the table I'm sure. Williams' promoter Dan Goossen says Williams could fight as high as 168 but there is no way that his fighter will meet Hopkins at 170-pounds. Williams has weighed 157 for his two recent bouts at the middleweight limit. Facing Hopkins at 168 would already be a lot to ask of Williams, 170 is too much and too soon. Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions told Morales that Hopkins is unable to get below 170. It was only a few months ago that Hopkins vowed to come down to 168 to fight Carl Froch.

"I believe at 168, certainly Paul is giving up the most," Goossen said to BoxingScene.com's Robert Morales. "That (fighting at 170) is putting himself at a bigger disadvantage."

Williams was due to fight WBO/WBC middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik on October 3. On Monday it was announced that Pavlik was forced to withdraw because of a staph infection on the middle knuckle of his left hand.

Goossen told Morales a few ago that Williams would not wait around until the two proposed dates November 21 and December 5 to fight Pavlik. Before Williams commits himself to another opponent, Goossen is waiting for the results of Pavlik's medical tests to see how long it will take for him to recover from the infection and how soon he can fight.

"I've had conversations with Top Rank and HBO and our side and things haven't really changed much," Goossen said. "We don't want to be sitting around waiting for Kelly Pavlik. If he is unavailable to fight, we want to keep Paul out there. I'm still waiting for this Pavlik thing to come to some sort of conclusion."

Pavlik's manager Cameron Dunkin told Morales that he will not be upset if Williams and Goossen decide to move on. He understands their position.

"If that is his feeling, I am fine with it. I am not upset with him or Paul," Dunkin said.

Send News Tips and Comments To Mark Vester @ boxingvester@gmail.com