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By TK Stewart - Well, if you ever doubted that what Bob Arum wants, Bob Arum gets, then you needn’t look any further than the fact that reports are indicating that Kelly Pavlik will make the first defense of his WBC and WBO middleweight titles against “Ireland’s” John Duddy on January 26th in Atlantic City.
On the night that Pavlik separated former champion Jermain Taylor from his title belts and his senses in Atlantic City, Arum told the assembled media that he wanted “Pavlik to stay busy” and one of the fist names out of Arum’s mouth as the likely opponent was John Duddy.
However, before a Duddy fight can be cemented, Jermain Taylor has to give his blessing. Taylor has until October 29th to decide if he wants a contractually mandated rematch with Pavlik at a catch weight of 166 pounds. Most insiders feel that Taylor will not exercise the rematch clause, thus freeing Pavlik to face Duddy.
There can’t be many in the Taylor camp that would want to see that night again, unless of course they have a strong dislike for Jermain. The ending of the fight reminded me of when Marvis Frazier slumped to the floor against Mike Tyson back in 1986. I don’t know about you, but I can only watch that type of carnage unfold once a generation.
Whatever the case, the Pavlik vs. Duddy match could be another high profile fight in a long list of big matches that have been made within the sport in the past several months.
Duddy, a proven ticket seller in New York City is fighting this weekend in his native Ireland against late sub Prince Arron, from England, who sports a lowly 10-2 record with no knockout victories. [details]
On the night that Pavlik separated former champion Jermain Taylor from his title belts and his senses in Atlantic City, Arum told the assembled media that he wanted “Pavlik to stay busy” and one of the fist names out of Arum’s mouth as the likely opponent was John Duddy.
However, before a Duddy fight can be cemented, Jermain Taylor has to give his blessing. Taylor has until October 29th to decide if he wants a contractually mandated rematch with Pavlik at a catch weight of 166 pounds. Most insiders feel that Taylor will not exercise the rematch clause, thus freeing Pavlik to face Duddy.
There can’t be many in the Taylor camp that would want to see that night again, unless of course they have a strong dislike for Jermain. The ending of the fight reminded me of when Marvis Frazier slumped to the floor against Mike Tyson back in 1986. I don’t know about you, but I can only watch that type of carnage unfold once a generation.
Whatever the case, the Pavlik vs. Duddy match could be another high profile fight in a long list of big matches that have been made within the sport in the past several months.
Duddy, a proven ticket seller in New York City is fighting this weekend in his native Ireland against late sub Prince Arron, from England, who sports a lowly 10-2 record with no knockout victories. [details]
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