Pavlik's Next Two Fights: Lorenzo and Duddy? Ugh.

This seems to be the path Top Rank wants to go right now. They have openly said that perhaps Duddy will still get a shot later in the year and of course Lorenzo appears to be the frontrunner for June. If Pavlik fights Lorenzo and Duddy for his next two fights without making any effort to make a fight with Winky or Abraham (or even Sturm for that matter), he should be just as criticized as Mayweather for ducking the best opponents in his weight class. It's the same argument I had against Taylor that seemed illogical. Everyone was yelling, "He fought Hopkins TWICE then Winky! Let him have a breather or two." Well, he fought nobody before Hopkins, then was contractually obligated for the rematch and Winky was made his mandatory by the WBC right after the Hopkins rematch. He would have been stripped if he ducked Winky. So, in much the same way, all the Pavlik defenders will be yelling, "He fought Miranda and then Taylor TWICE, let him have a breather or two." Well, the Miranda fight was an eliminator, so if he wanted the title shot he HAD to take it. The first Taylor fight was his title shot, and he was contractually obligated for the rematch, and Top Rank made it CLEAR they didn't think a rematch was what they wanted. They wanted the Duddy fight instead. Let me make it clear: I don't have a big problem with a breather fight for June for Pavlik. All new champs, after a rematch with the former champ if necessary, deserve one optional defense. I'm fine with that. I'm not fine with TWO in a row, and no boxing fan should be. If Pavlik fights Lorenzo and then makes a Duddy fight, the floodgates should be opened for the "Top Rank and Pavlik are milking this for all it's worth" talk. Thoughts?

Comments (20)

cupcrazy01

definitely no reason for Winky to have taken that fight. Unfortunately Winky hasn't managed to earn anythign since. I think there's a good chance they could fight eachother at some point relatively soon. However, I think anyone who believes the MW division owes Winky any fight he wants on his terms is fooling themselves. At this point he is gonna have to adjust to Pavlik's demands. I wouldn't say the division owes him anything, he got his shot, was robbed IMO, and then voluntarily turned down a shot at a rematch for the title. But he is still a top contender in the division, number 1 or 2 behind Abraham at worst. He also would bring the highest profile to a fight for Pavlik at 160. Yes, it should be mostly on the champ's terms, but it's not like this is the Winky of 2000 we're talking about. He has a track record and some leverage.

18y ago

BrendanWoodside

18y ago

DrewWoodside

Offering Winky a shot at Pavlik before he won the title is like offering Mosley a fight with Berto right now. Do you think Mosley takes that? definitely no reason for Winky to have taken that fight. Unfortunately Winky hasn't managed to earn anythign since. I think there's a good chance they could fight eachother at some point relatively soon. However, I think anyone who believes the MW division owes Winky any fight he wants on his terms is fooling themselves. At this point he is gonna have to adjust to Pavlik's demands.

18y ago

cupcrazy01

Offering Winky a shot at Pavlik before he won the title is like offering Mosley a fight with Berto right now. Do you think Mosley takes that?

18y ago

HappyBoxingFan

If Arum had any balls he'd have Pavlik fighting both guys simultaneously. I think that's an even money fight. Yeah... maybe... which hand of Pavlik's is broken?

18y ago

DrewWoodside

Duddy should fight Lorenzo in an eliminator... If Arum had any balls he'd have Pavlik fighting both guys simultaneously. I think that's an even money fight.

18y ago

HappyBoxingFan

Duddy should fight Lorenzo in an eliminator...

18y ago

DrewWoodside

Abraham's stamina is a joke.. He'll be completely winded by round 10. I'm shocked his handlers are gonna bring his belt to the states.

18y ago

Derranged_

yes, but i am not thinking duddy is ever going to be good enough to beat the top guys! he is just very average. great heart, and determination, but little to get him past the hump of becoming great! You're probably right about Duddy but that shouldn't disallow him from getting a title shot someday in his career. He's exciting and has a lot heart and that should count for something. Boxing's better from guys like John Duddy... Btw, I'd like to see Duddy rematch Smitchet...

18y ago

DrewWoodside

yes, but i am not thinking duddy is ever going to be good enough to beat the top guys! he is just very average. great heart, and determination, but little to get him past the hump of becoming great! Duddy's best hope was getting his ass kicked by Pavlik in a title match. If he doesn't do this soon he will be exposed by a lesser fighter. After he gets beaten in a title match he can go back to beating up cans so myself and other fans can cheer him and get drunk. He just better hope that Andy Lee doesn't get a belt and steal all his fans. Unfortunately the only worldclass aspect of Duddy's game is his chin.. and even this is questionable considering the comp.

18y ago

MELLYMEL

I think that a possible Pavlik-Duddy fight this year is more likely not to happen in lieu of the Irishman's dismal performance against a handpicked Smitchet. Arum's change of mind to match Duddy up with Pavlik indicates that they are not confident that Duddy is near ready for Kelly... I think Team Duddy needs to focus on improving their fighter rather than pushing for a title shot too soon. In Duddy's short career he's taken alot of punishment in the ring and a devastating 'beat down' by the hands of Pavlik or even Abraham could set his career back 'light years.' You can look no further than at Jeff Lacy's career for proof of that... yes, but i am not thinking duddy is ever going to be good enough to beat the top guys! he is just very average. great heart, and determination, but little to get him past the hump of becoming great!

18y ago

Derranged_

18y ago

MELLYMEL

Wow...Winky not a viable challenger? Keep in mind one of those title shots was for the light heavyweight belt...and it was close. And the other shot against Taylor was a draw that most people think he won. While Tito and Quartey aren't real middleweights, I think Taylor and Soliman qualify. And putting up a good fight against Hopkins is decent. let me ask you this though, winky is winky. he is great, and a hofer, BUT, when you get numerous title shots and do not win, how many chances do you get? especially now since he has not fought, and beaten a top ranked opponent in some time? Arum stated in the article posted by raycorey here that winky was offered a shot at pavlik and turned it down b4 pavlik won the title, plus he was offener a shot at taylor again, and turned that down as well. he is the one who prices himself out, and is doing shit to earn a shot! he has earned enough off his past accomplishments, and they are all used up now. Winky has not done anything for me lately, and thats the bottom line! all he has done the last few years is lose, and than cry about it, and cried about how he deserves all this big money! that is clearly not the case, and everyone knows it except winky! make no mistake about it, he is a great fighter, and i am a big fan, but no matter who the fighter i would still feel the same way!

18y ago

Run8964

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18y ago

kayjay

18y ago

cupcrazy01

Abraham is the real contender. Pavlik deserves the one softie and needs to give Abraham the chance to fight on American TV as his undercard. That was the plan before Duddy blew it. Now Pavlik needs to steal Abraham's opponent and make the possibility of the MW twin bill less likely. HBO might as well put Berto on the first half of Pavlik's TV spot. Winky is NOT a viable challenger at this point. He's had two consecutive unsuccessfuly title shots. Why should his legacy at 154 earn him an unending streak of chances? He needs to beat a real middleweight or two. Wow...Winky not a viable challenger? Keep in mind one of those title shots was for the light heavyweight belt...and it was close. And the other shot against Taylor was a draw that most people think he won. While Tito and Quartey aren't real middleweights, I think Taylor and Soliman qualify. And putting up a good fight against Hopkins is decent.

18y ago

MELLYMEL

18y ago

cupcrazy01

Abraham presents, I think, the biggest problems for Pavlik at 160. Winky would be very difficult, but more than likely he's looking at a decision win, because he would throw so much and land enough to get it done. Winky would jab him well and defend well but I think the judges would be looking to give Pavlik the nod there. Abraham could hit and hurt Pavlik, and he can box a little too...something Miranda knows very little about.

18y ago

Silencers

Fair enough. Consider the white flag raised. If they try to get an Abraham fight after Lorenzo, that works for me, and, frankly, if it happens, it buys Pavlik another breather after that one in my opinion. I agree, Abraham would be a tough fight for him.

18y ago

kayjay

18y ago