By Mark Vester
The big announcement is coming on Monday from Top Rank. The opponent for Kelly Pavlik's middleweight title defense on June 7, now scheduled to take place at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, will be announced.
Pavlik was originally scheduled to face "Irish" John Duddy at New York's Madison Square Garden, but Duddy suffered a very bad cut above his left eye during a recent win over Walid Smichet. The cut would have never healed in time for Duddy to make the June date.
Undefeated Giovanni Lorenzo, recently placed as the number-one contender, is the favorite at the moment. Several other possibilities exist, including Gary Lockett, Marco Antonio Rubio and Randy Griffin.
As revealed by Dan Rafael, middleweight prospect and future Pavlik opponent, Andy Lee, is going to sign with Top Rank. Trainer/manager Emanuel Steward met with Arum last week to discuss the terms of the deal. Lee might land a spot on the June 7 undercard to Pavlik's first defense of the titles he won from Jermain Taylor last September. Lee would like to face Pavlik by the end of the year.
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