By Mark Vester
In a recent interview with BoxingScene's Jose Aguirre, Kelly Pavlik (31-0, 28KOs) said he would like stick around in the middleweight division for at least another year. Most expected Pavlik's Sept. 29 bout with middleweight champ Jermain Taylor to be his last at the middleweight limit of 160-pounds. Pavlik says that he intends to stays at middleweight in order to defend his title (should he win) and challenge some of the other champions.
"I would definitely like to defend it and I would definitely like to fight for the WBA and the IBF. I would like to fight (Felix) Sturm and (Arthur) Abraham. We'll see what happens. I would like to stick around for a year, year and a half later, after I win this title," Pavlik said.
Whether he likes it or not, Pavlik may be forced to move up to the super middleweight division in the near future. The rematch clause in the fight contract (for Taylor) states that if Pavlik beats Taylor, the rematch would have to take place at 168-pounds. Win or lose, Taylor plans to move up to super middleweight after the bout with Pavlik.
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