By Rick Reeno

BoxingScene.com was advised that WBA middleweight champion Felix Sturm (35-2, 15KOs) tried to secure Kelly Pavlik (36-2, 32KOs) for a fight in Germany on June 25. Sturm was willing to make the fight at a catch-weight of 165-pounds. The fight won't happen, at least for the moment. Pavlik has been inactive since last April's decision loss to Sergio Martinez.

Besides the inactivity, Pavlik is scheduled to fight Alfonso Lopez (21-0, 16KOs) on the Manny Pacquiao-Shane Mosley pay-per-view on May 7 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Before taking on a fighter like Sturm, Pavlik's handlers want their boxer to shake off the rust. Pavlik's performance against Lopez will determine how quickly his handlers will move him in position for a major fight.