By Mark Vester
Now that Joe Calzaghe has publically turned down Kelly Pavlik in favor of Roy Jones Jr, the question now falls on who will become Pavlik's September opponent.
The two candadates, according to Top Rank head Bob Arum during a recent interview with MaxBoxing/BoxingScene.com, are Marco Antonio Rubio and Ricardo Mayorga. Arum says that Mayorga's promoter Don King has been contacting him to make the fight. The plan, prior to Pavlik's blowout of Gary Lockett last Saturday in Atlantic City, has been to fight Rubio on September 27, but now Mayorga becomes a major player in the mix.
"There is Mayorga. Don King has been calling me about the fight. He is a possibility," Arum said.
Mayorga has been inactive since last November's unanimous decision win over Fernando Vargas. The Vargas bout took place at a catch-weight of 166-pounds. The high profile win over Vargas placed Mayorga in line for another big payday opportunity.
Over the last few months, Mayorga has spoken about moving all the way down to 147 for a bout with Miguel Cotto and he's tried to land a bout with Shane Mosley at 154. There are doubts about his ability to get down to 147 and 154 appears to be his best weight.
Pavlik would be Mayorga's biggest and strongest opponent. The fight could easily become another mismatch, like last week's bout with Lockett. Mayorga goes above and beyond to sell a fight and his name is still marketable enough to sell tickets.
Send News Tips and Comments To Mark Vester @ boxingscene@hotmail.com
