By Mark Vester

It was reported by The Plain Dealer , that promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank is wasting no time in positioning Kelly Pavlik (31-0, 28 KOs) for his mandatory title shot at WBC/WBO middleweight champion Jermain Taylor (27-0-1, 17 KOs).

Arum has a date reserved of September 22, with Las Vegas being the preferred site. A deal has even been struck with HBO, but Arum is not sold on the fight happening. He indicated to the paper that he's been told Taylor may give up his WBC title, most likely to move up to super middleweight to challenge WBO champ Joe Calzaghe of Wales.

"We've agreed to terms with HBO," said Arum. "I'm optimistic the fight happens. We're hearing Taylor might give up the title. But Kelly is the premier 160-pounder. All those other guys are just businessmen."

Should Taylor drop the WBC title to fight Calzaghe at super middleweight, Arum says that boxing fans should boycott Taylor's future fights.

"The public should not buy another Taylor fight," Arum said. "They don't want to see him or Floyd Mayweather go out and do a tap dance. Kelly went out and fought the toughest guy [Edison Miranda] in the division and not only beat him, he annihilated him. Even Miranda said that."

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