By Mark Vester

WBC/WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik is tentatively set to return on September 27 at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. The opponent on the other end of the ring is still up in the air.

MaxBoxing/BoxingScene.com's Steve Kim spoke with Bob Arum of Top Rank to get current status on the selection of Pavlik's next opponent. A few names are in the running, but WBO welterweight champ Paul Williams does not appear to be one of them. A few weeks ago, Williams called for a bout with Pavlik and was willing to move up by two-weight divisions to make the fight.

According to Arum, Williams is asking for too much money. Arum and Dan Goossen, who represents Paul Williams, are far apart on the money, which Arum says is due to the economy and the limited dollar figure that HBO is willing to offer.

Winky Wright has been calling for a bout with Pavlik for several months, but was asking for way too much money to even be considered. He appears to have had a change of heart and is now willing to be more realistic with his monetary demand.

"Right now we're going to explore what the situation is with Winky Wright. Because Winky has learned that his monetary demands are unrealistic, although he's a good fighter and what was around a while ago, just isn't around today. It's as simple as that, there's nothing I can do about it."

Besides Wright, Williams (if they can agree on the money), Marco Antonio Rubio, the winner of Felix Sturm-Randy Griffin and WBC junior middleweight champ Sergio Mora (a longshot) are all in the running for date.

Send News Tips and Comments To Mark Vester @ boxingscene@hotmail.com