Who should Pavlik fight after Hopkins? Pavlik cannot win a fight against Kessler.

This is an excerpt from another site: I seriously doubt that Joe Calzaghe will stick around to fight Pavlik, since he pretty much has proven that he doesn't want any part of him by his choice of Roy Jones Jr. as an opponent. Rather than stick around and potentially mess up his highly regarded legacy, I don't see Calzaghe wanting to take a dangerous opponent like Pavlik no matter how good Calzaghe looks against Jones. That is a fight, though, that Pavlik needs to keep pursuing above all others, because Calzaghe may change his mind in the future, especially when he gives retirement a shot and sees how bored he is. I think after awhile, Calzaghe will change his mind. If Pavlik looks bad against Hopkins, yet still wins, look for Calzaghe to change his mind a little sooner about wanting to face Pavlik. After his impressive 4th round TKO win over Edison Miranda in June, Abraham has greatly increased his standing in the boxing community. He looked nothing short of awesome against Miranda, showing one-punch power and precision punching. Abraham looks more like a light heavyweight than a middleweight, though, and his size and power would make him a dangerous opponent for Pavlik. This fight appeals to me much more than Pavlik's fight against Hopkins, which I see as a fight that will likely fail to live up to expectations. If Pavlik is interested in fighting another opponent out of his weight class, I suggest he take on either Mikkel Kessler, the WBA super middleweight champion. That would be a far more appealing fight than Hopkins, and it would be an opponent with better boxing skills than Pavlik. Kessler moves well, fights well on the inside and outside, has an excellent defense and also punches with a lot of power. This would be a very tough fight for Pavlik, because he couldn't just hope that he would walk him down like he's done to his other opponents, since Kessler moves much better and doesn't fight in a stationary manner like Pavlik. Barring a knockout win, I can't see Pavlik winning this fight. Kessler is just a superior fighter, both bigger and more advanced than Pavlik. Kessler has much more to him than just power-punching, although he can do that as well.

Comments (20)

Unify wit AA.

17y ago

jangeorg

What has Kessler done to earn a shot at Pavlik??? That has Pavlik done to earn a shot at the former two time worldchamp Kessler

17y ago

dstew

you fail! , infact i made a post earlier, becasue it's like AA is non existant on this forum. How can you say hes flavour of the moment, That fight actually proved alot if you had seen the first one and the second in whole How do I fail? Calling AA "the flavor of the moment" is entirely accurate, especially on this forum. Did you not see the bandwagon get overloaded with all the "hardcore" AA fans after he KO'd Miranda? Maybe the buzz has died down since then, but that's what happens when you are forced to fight mandatories like Raul Marquez in Bumfuck Germany. I'm not saying he doesn't deserve to fight Pavlik, just that he's got a load of popularity at the moment.

17y ago

LEFTYGUNZZ

I seriously doubt that Joe Calzaghe will stick around to fight Pavlik, since he pretty much has proven that he doesn't want any part of him by his choice of Roy Jones Jr. as an opponent. Rather than stick around and potentially mess up his highly regarded legacy, I don't see Calzaghe wanting to take a dangerous opponent like Pavlik no matter how good Calzaghe looks against Jones. I would like to see him fight Abraham and settle things at 160. I agree with these statements...I see Kelly winning the fight but it would be a good battle between these two fighters. I have seen Abraham fight both times against Miranda and Edison is a hrad puncher with a suspect chin. Kelly has been down against Taylor iwho hasn't really knocked anyone out at Middle weight but before he was knocking out most of his opponents. I don't think Kelly's chin is suspect and I know his heart is not suspect. He picks off shots with his gloves and has a great jab and a hammer for a right hand..His right hand in my mind reminds me of Vlads....Abraham landed some wild punches against Miranda and I don't see him landed those wide left hooks against Pavlik....I see Kelly wining the fight maybe by late TKO or UD.....Lefty

17y ago

abadger

First remark is is plain stupid Kessler kills pavlik easily... that was greatly put in boxing terms, however mabey some justification on how kessler would kill pavlik easy would be nice and the last one has still got me giggling in my workplace, EVERYONE ITS OK , ABADGER HAS SOLVED THE PROBLEM ... HE WILL FIGHT WINKY WRIGHT IF HE TURNS INTO PAVLIK hahahaha :You_Rock_ I have no idea what most of what you just said means. Really, how many times do you want me to break down Kessler v Pavlik? I must have done so ten times at least.

17y ago

BRAVEHEART

What should I say? If anyone thinks Calzaghe is afraid of Pavlik they are on crack. Abraham looks good and would have a great chance to beat Pavlik if Pavlik's chin is in the slightest bit suspect. Kessler kills Pavlik easily. Its all so simple, if I were Kelly Pavlik I'd fight Winky Wright! First remark is is plain stupid Kessler kills pavlik easily... that was greatly put in boxing terms, however mabey some justification on how kessler would kill pavlik easy would be nice and the last one has still got me giggling in my workplace, EVERYONE ITS OK , ABADGER HAS SOLVED THE PROBLEM ... HE WILL FIGHT WINKY WRIGHT IF HE TURNS INTO PAVLIK hahahaha :You_Rock_

17y ago

BRAVEHEART

I agree that Kelly should fight AA before moving up, but that doesn't rule out a future fight with Kessler. Seriously, Pavlik beats a loser in Lockett and all of a sudden you get people acting as though the only ones deserving to share the ring with him are names on the p4p list, or the flavor of the moment like AA after his KO of Miranda. A fight with Kessler would be huge and very good for the sport; anyone who doesn't see that has their head in their ass. you fail! , infact i made a post earlier, becasue it's like AA is non existant on this forum. How can you say hes flavour of the moment, That fight actually proved alot if you had seen the first one and the second in whole

17y ago

pins0099

I honestly think he'd destroy Kessler, they are in totally different categories. NOBODY would destroy Kessler. He can be beat by faster, dynamic, high work-rate boxers as we saw with Calz (and it has to be said 50,000 Calz fans bearing down on him - me included), but no way does anyone destroy Kessler he's just one of those guys that would tough it out with anybody and because he is a better boxer than Pavlik....faster, better jab, arguably power is 50/50, although I'd like to see Pav knock out a true SMW first before I agree on that, I don't see any way he wins this fight.

17y ago

BetterCallSaul

Calzaghe has been boxing for 20 yrs, he deserves his shot at the money like everybody else. Calzaghe will beat Jones in a close fight, and then embarrass Pavlik in a UD.

17y ago

T97

i remember seeing an article on boxingscene, saying that calzaghe will NOT retire after fighting jones, then said he will go for Pavlik. does anyone else remember that? I do. Forget it. Boxingscene has had it's best posters trying to explain that to you several times. Apparently they have failed miserably every time. So accept the fact that you'll never ever be able to understand. Yea, You could provide him with undeniable evidence and he would go make a hate thread about Kessler on a different topic, He always does..

17y ago

abadger

I'm not sure about this. Personally i think it would be a very close pick 'em fight. I would like to say that Kessler would kill him but I can't see it happening. To be honest Kessler isn't a KO puncher. Maybe I exaggerate. A KO is no certainty, but I see Kessler winning a wide decision at the very least, I think the speed and power of his jab, right hand combo would back Pavlik up, not the other way around, and at that point Kessler just outboxes him. I believe Kessler does have KO power, but doesn't go looking for it, he just lets it come if it comes.

17y ago

Dan

What should I say? If anyone thinks Calzaghe is afraid of Pavlik they are on crack. Abraham looks good and would have a great chance to beat Pavlik if Pavlik's chin is in the slightest bit suspect. Kessler kills Pavlik easily. Its all so simple, if I were Kelly Pavlik I'd fight Winky Wright! I'm not sure about this. Personally i think it would be a very close pick 'em fight. I would like to say that Kessler would kill him but I can't see it happening. To be honest Kessler isn't a KO puncher.

17y ago

BattlingNelson

What has Kessler done to earn a shot at Pavlik??? Forget it. Boxingscene has had it's best posters trying to explain that to you several times. Apparently they have failed miserably every time. So accept the fact that you'll never ever be able to understand.

17y ago

dstew

i remember seeing an article on boxingscene, saying that calzaghe will NOT retire after fighting jones, then said he will go for Pavlik. does anyone else remember that? IIRC, Calzaghe petitioned the WBO to hang on to his 168 belt, saying he intended to return to 168 after the RJJ fight. There was not any explicit mention of a Pavlik fight, but it was widely speculated that would be the only fight that it would make it worth it for Joe to return to 168.

17y ago

dstew

17y ago

boxingsmash69

i remember seeing an article on boxingscene, saying that calzaghe will NOT retire after fighting jones, then said he will go for Pavlik. does anyone else remember that?

17y ago

Miburo

He should fight Abraham of course. Wright too if possible to really clear out the best talent in the division (assuming he wins). After that there's little for him at middleweight.

17y ago

roundingace

NO serious question. What has Kessler done to deserve a shot a shot at Pavlik?? Pretty good question to me. Abraham should be next to stamp his legacy on the MW division then seek out Kessler BEFORE destroying JC, if he is still around by then. I laugh hard at all these JC jock scratchers. Your boy better hope he can beat the ever dangerous RJJ before he looks to get a fucking beat down from Pav. Kessler? - come on. AA should be next and I think this man's question should be answered.

17y ago

dstew

NO serious question. What has Kessler done to deserve a shot a shot at Pavlik?? What did Gary Lockett do to deserve a shot at Pavlik? Or Rubio, who Arum was jizzing over getting in the ring with Kelly right after the Lockett fight? You act like fighting Kelly Pavlik is like winning the lottery. Actually, it may be like winning the lottery since any bum can do it...

17y ago

dstew

Pavlik/Kessler would be a good fight. Pavlik is not as indestructible as many think; his defense does not hold up when he's facing a fast, accurate puncher who puts together decent combos; Taylor landed 46% of his power shots in their 2nd fight (and 65% in the first fight, but most of that is from the 2nd round when Pavlik was on queer street). So Taylor was basically landing at will; he just wasn't active enough. Pavlik was a sitting duck, though, and I don't see Kessler having much problem landing on him either. My question would be how Kessler's chin would hold up? He may have never been down in a fight, but was rocked by Sartison in their first round. Pavlik's power would definitely test Kessler's chin, and his relentlessness would test Kessler's heart. This would be an awesome fight. OTOH, I think Kelly handles Abraham... I don't know if he'd stop him, but he'd win easily on the cards. AA isn't active enough.

17y ago