Joe Calzaghe is set to retire this year. A new chief of the 168 lbs must be found.
2 important fights takes place this weekend (Miranda-Abraham and Kessler-Sartison) and Bute is scheduled to defend his IBF-laurels in the early fall.
Middleweightchampion Kelly Pavlik is likely out of opponents at 160 and will probably be in the mix.
Who do you think will be the king come June next year?
Kessler is overrated - He is an average fighter whos power is questionable. WHy didnt he knock out ANdrade
Kessler and Taylor would be a good fight but I think Taylor would beat him
SMW will be the new stomping grounds for Pavlik as soon as he cleans up some business at MW. There is NOBODY at SMW who can, minus the punchers chance, even compare him to. Kessler will be dismantled much the same way Lockett was ...
Did you just compare Kessler to Lockett? :ugh:
Kessler vs Pavlik at SMW is one of the fights I would most like to see this year and is the fight I think Pavlik needs to win impressively to really have a claim at facing Calzaghe. If Kelly beats Kessler and Joe still doesn't fight him then people can start saying he's ducking Pavlik.
IMO SMW is a stronger division than MW and Pavlik needs to prove himself at SMW first and Kessler is the man to do that against. I would personally favour Kessler but would just love to see that fight.
Pavlik would beat Kessler. Kessler can not fight going backward and Pavlik will make him fight on the back foot and corner him. You have to give Pavlik lateral movement. Kessler goes straight back and would be in range of Pavlik's weaponary. Calzaghe is perfect example of a fighter that has the perfect style to beat Pavlik. Great hand speed, counter punching ability, southpaw with all of the angles and the fast foot speed.
On topic, i see Pavlik being the man at super middleweight in the next year. He showed that he still has the power at that weight and he certainly looked stronger. If Dawson stays at 175, then Pavlik should be fine. :D Chad stated that he is willing to move down to 168 on special occasions if he can not get big fights at light heavyweight.
SMW will be the new stomping grounds for Pavlik as soon as he cleans up some business at MW. There is NOBODY at SMW who can, minus the punchers chance, even compare him to. Kessler will be dismantled much the same way Lockett was and Miranda?...well, we already saw what Kelly did to him. Abraham, back to MW, will provide nothing more than another belt for Kelly. I don't see a TRUE test for Kelly until he enters LHW. There his power will be offset and true athleticism will come into play as well as natural, skillfull boxers at his same eye level.
Miranda will find himself in really deep water against an healthy Abraham.
I wonder how he will cope with a healthy version of Artur Abraham ! He couldnt take out a severely injured Abraham in their first fight. Makes me really wonder which kind of strategy he will employ to overcome Abraham's resistance in their second encounter.
To be honest my guess is that Abraham will murder his outgunned opponent within 5-6 rounds.The crude Columbian is tailor made for Abraham.No fast runner like Abraham's last opponent Ayala or excellent counterpuncher like Ghevor.The roughouse from south american only knows one way to ensure a victory:to duke it out with his foe and trust in his firepower.
IMO Abraham has the edge in firepower.He has the more telling punches.Abraham 's punches will take its toll on his hittable target alias Miranda within a few rounds.
What would a healthy Abraham have done to Miranda? Have a look:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VavuGDQM_DQ
We will see, this fight better happen...Unlike Calzaghe, Kessler actually has the balls to face Pavlik. it would be interesting, im not sure of Joe's future plans, but arum shouldnt be too focused on that match, and start looking for any other open names. kessler is good, though the calzaghe fight makes more sense in terms of dollars for a championship event. whatever is the next step i dont want to see another Lockett
see these are the qualities that i saw in taylor, who also has a good jab, good footwork, threw a lot of punches. but there's something about Pavlik, he just shuts down that offence.
kessler may have a better right hand than Taylor, but i believe Pavlik can take it
We will see, this fight better happen...Unlike Calzaghe, Kessler actually has the balls to face Pavlik.
Kessler has excellent boxing ability....hes got a great jab, throws crisp accurate punches, big right hand, nice left hook, he can go to the body and he has good footwork.
Kessler would beat Pavlik. see these are the qualities that i saw in taylor, who also has a good jab, good footwork, threw a lot of punches. but there's something about Pavlik, he just shuts down that offence.
kessler may have a better right hand than Taylor, but i believe Pavlik can take it
I like Kessler a lot, but I think his power is a little overrated...I just can't believe Andrade wouldn't go down from all those flush shots...either Kessler's power is overrated or Andrade is the toughest motherfucker in boxing...I dunno. andrade been dropped only once against Yusaf Mack. it was a good shot. But Kessler hit him with harder flush punches and Andrade took em like lollypop candy. I dont think his power is all that, he's explosive but doesnt have a one punch ko power. Also outside of the andrade win, there wasnt too many tough guys on his record.
If kelly fights him there's a good possibility of the stoppage late in the fight. i see Kessler fighting in spurts using those quick hands, but Pavlik keeps coming forward and punishing him. 8-9.
I agree but I also feel his boxing ability is also overrated. People really put his boxing skill on a high pedastal yet from watching his fights he really doesnt show anything special in the ring that makes me think or convinces me he can beat Pavlik. He is more or less an average all around fighter he lacks nothing yet he has no real superceding ability
Kessler has excellent boxing ability....hes got a great jab, throws crisp accurate punches, big right hand, nice left hook, he can go to the body and he has good footwork.
Kessler would beat Pavlik.
I like Kessler a lot, but I think his power is a little overrated...I just can't believe Andrade wouldn't go down from all those flush shots...either Kessler's power is overrated or Andrade is the toughest motherfucker in boxing...I dunno.
I agree but I also feel his boxing ability is also overrated. People really put his boxing skill on a high pedastal yet from watching his fights he really doesnt show anything special in the ring that makes me think or convinces me he can beat Pavlik. He is more or less an average all around fighter he lacks nothing yet he has no real superceding ability
Originally Posted by jangeorg
Perhaps he do,but Kessler walk around at 180 on fight,do you think Palvik can deal with a guy that big??
Pavlik is not a small guy himself, he has to work to get down to 160. middleweight is more prestigious division than the supermiddleweight, and more money is there. Pavlik's resume is better than Kesslers', much better, and i think he would chase Kessler if they fought.
+1^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Perhaps he do,but Kessler walk around at 180 on fight,do you think Palvik can deal with a guy that big?? Pavlik is not a small guy himself, he has to work to get down to 160. middleweight is more prestigious division than the supermiddleweight, and more money is there. Pavlik's resume is better than Kesslers', much better, and i think he would chase Kessler if they fought.
Originally Posted by WLAD OWNS
The jury is still out on Pavlik's power at 168...I'd say Pavlik punches harder p4p.
Perhaps he do,but Kessler walk around 180 on fight,do you think Palvik can deal with a guy that big??
Im pretty sure he can if he beefs up and get that rail frame thicker he will definitely have more power behind his shots to KO Kessler. Kessler hits hard but in spurts Kelly stands and lays into his opponents taking what they have and just returning the favor.