By Mark Vester
After Kelly Pavlik's (34-0, 30KOs) three-round blowout of overmatched Gary Lockett at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, the next order of business for Bob Arum of Top Rank is to match Pavlik against unbeaten WBC/WBA/IBF super middleweight champ Joe Calzaghe (45-0, 32 KOs) of Wales.
Calzaghe's promoter Frank Warren, in town for Lockett, held further discussion with Arum on the fight. Arum says the fight is a real possibility for a pay-per-view event to be held in Las Vegas.
“Our first priority is, if we can make a fight against Calzaghe,” Arum told The Vindicator. “I don’t know if we can do it or not do it, but I ... think it’s a real possibility. That’s the fight I would like to make. I think that would do the best business [in Las Vegas]. Not as big of a gate as in Wales, but the pay-per-view would be a lot bigger. [Fighting in Wales] would be up to Kelly and his father [Mike Pavlik Sr.] and Cameron [Dunkin]. I haven’t discussed that yet. My theory is, the ring is the same. And Kelly’s not going to be influenced one way or the other by the fans cheering for the other guy.”
Should Calzaghe pass and instead face Roy Jones Jr. in November, other options for Pavlik include Marco Antonio Rubio in September, or a year-end bout with Arthur Abraham or John Duddy, who was originally slated to face Pavlik at the Boardwalk Hall, but pulled out due to an injury suffered during a bout in February.
Send News Tips and Comments To Mark Vester @ boxingscene@hotmail.com
