"Joe Calzaghe vs. Kelly Pavlik Will Make History," Arum Says

[abadger]

There is only one man winning this fight.

Joe has fought bigger punchers than Pavlik, and been hit flush by them (Lacy, Kessler, Eubank, etc.) so Pavliks power will not bother Joe.

Joe has fought people who were much better technically, and outboxed them (Hopkins, Kessler, Eubank, Reid etc.) so Pavlik is not going to be able to outbox Joe.

Pavlik is not as fast as Joe, Joe will beat him to the punch all night long.

Everyone raves about Pavlik's Jab, but Joe's is better and he will use it to reduce Pavlik's workrate considerably.

Pavlik fight's in straight lines, and Joe has outstanding movement. Joe, however, fights from everywhere, all kinds of angles. Last time I checked, Pavlik moves in one direction (not including when Joe puches him backwards) Pavlik will get picked off.

Joe has fought stronger (don't get confused with power) and bigger men and bullied them backwards (Lacy, Eubank, Kessler etc.) so Pavlik will not be coming forward. Can Pavlik fight on the back foot? He had better hope so...

Pavlik's chin is questionable at best. How many world class operators have been knocked down by Taylor? Taylor is the worst finisher I have ever seen, and gassed trying to end it. Joe is one of the best finishers I have seen, and will not tire himself out looking for the killer blow.

The only way Pavlik beats joe is with a stick while he sleeps, but in a ring, not a prayer.

Excellent explanation of Kelly's chances in this fight. Everyone should read it.

[WHB3]

I'm a huge Pavlik fan, but even I got to say this is going to be a very difficult fight for Kelly. Calzaghe's no slouch.

On the other hand, Calzaghe ain't hurting Pavlik. It took Jermain Taylor, whose a much harder puncher than Calzaghe, landing like six-eight clean power punches to even drop Kelly to a knee.

The thing is, Calzaghe's thing has always been his output. Well, that's all gravy when fighting a Bernard Hopkins, but it could be trouble when fighting a guy who throws almost 60-80 punches a round.

[BmoreBrawler]

I would pick Calzaghe to win, although Pavlik has 1 punch KO power and would be dangerous.

[WHB3]

Everyone always dismisses the mental factor in this fight. There's monster motivation for both guys. Throw out all the technical stuff and their resumes because when it comes right down to it, they're going to war for 12 rounds and the man with the bigger heart is going to win.

[abadger]

Everyone always dismisses the mental factor in this fight. There's monster motivation for both guys. Throw out all the technical stuff and their resumes because when it comes right down to it, they're going to war for 12 rounds and the man with the bigger heart is going to win.

I think Kelly will try to make it a war, but he won't be able too. Joe will be too classy for him.

[WHB3]

Here's something we can all agree on:

Bob Arum is so full of **** when it comes to talks of putting the fight on network TV. This would totally be on HBO PPV and it would from Vegas. There's no shot that it would be on a CBS or NBC and live from New York or something like that. This has Vegas PPV written all over it.

[Mushashi]

I doubt Joey Cal will agree to fight at 168, fighting at a catch-weight of 170 seems more likely IMO.

But fighting at 168 means the Ring 168/175 belts could be up for grabs, if Pavlik wins he could be going home with 3 linear titles, damn.

[βetamax]

There is only one man winning this fight.

Joe has fought bigger punchers than Pavlik, and been hit flush by them (Lacy, Kessler, Eubank, etc.) so Pavliks power will not bother Joe.

Joe has fought people who were much better technically, and outboxed them (Hopkins, Kessler, Eubank, Reid etc.) so Pavlik is not going to be able to outbox Joe.

Pavlik is not as fast as Joe, Joe will beat him to the punch all night long.

Everyone raves about Pavlik's Jab, but Joe's is better and he will use it to reduce Pavlik's workrate considerably.

Pavlik fight's in straight lines, and Joe has outstanding movement. Joe, however, fights from everywhere, all kinds of angles. Last time I checked, Pavlik moves in one direction (not including when Joe puches him backwards) Pavlik will get picked off.

Joe has fought stronger (don't get confused with power) and bigger men and bullied them backwards (Lacy, Eubank, Kessler etc.) so Pavlik will not be coming forward. Can Pavlik fight on the back foot? He had better hope so...

Pavlik's chin is questionable at best. How many world class operators have been knocked down by Taylor? Taylor is the worst finisher I have ever seen, and gassed trying to end it. Joe is one of the best finishers I have seen, and will not tire himself out looking for the killer blow.

The only way Pavlik beats joe is with a stick while he sleeps, but in a ring, not a prayer.

-What proof do you have that Lacy, Kessler, and Eubank are bigger punches than Pavlik? That's a big claim.

-He did NOT outbox Hopkins. I can't believe your even putting Reid into the same category as Hopkins.

-Joe has a better jab? Based on what? Jermaine Taylor has one of the best jabs in boxing and Pavlik outjabbed him. So again, another stretch of a claim.

-He's NOT going to push Pavlik back. That's just silly. Calzaghe pushed back Kessler who has a horrible fight game going backwards.

-Questionable chin? Are you serious? He's taken big shots from Miranda and Taylor and didn't go down against Taylor until after taking several flush shots in a row and then got up immediately. Taylor DOES have power, don't get it twisted.


Let's not get too crazy here. I'd pick Calzaghe too but this would not be a walk in the park by any means.

[UKDan]

-What proof do you have that Lacy, Kessler, and Eubank are bigger punches than Pavlik? That's a big claim.

-He did NOT outbox Hopkins. I can't believe your even putting Reid into the same category as Hopkins.

-Joe has a better jab? Based on what? Jermaine Taylor has one of the best jabs in boxing and Pavlik outjabbed him. So again, another stretch of a claim.

-He's NOT going to push Pavlik back. That's just silly. Calzaghe pushed back Kessler who has a horrible fight game going backwards.

-Questionable chin? Are you serious? He's taken big shots from Miranda and Taylor and didn't go down against Taylor until after taking several flush shots in a row and then got up immediately. Taylor DOES have power, don't get it twisted.


Let's not get too crazy here. I'd pick Calzaghe too but this would not be a walk in the park by any means.

I would definitely agree this is gonna be one of joe's toughest tights if it happens and i think joe might edge it but lets not underestimate pavlik....he is VERY good! im in two minds but joe edges it i think....I THINK!

[abadger]

I would definitely agree this is gonna be one of joe's toughest tights if it happens and i think joe might edge it but lets not underestimate pavlik....he is VERY good! im in two minds but joe edges it i think....I THINK!

I don't agree that Pavlik is "very" good, in elite boxing terms. What he does he does very well, but from what he's shown us so far, he's pretty limited as a fighter, relying almost totally on power and relentlessness. He doesn't appear to have any subtlety in his game, he's not elusive, clever or fast.

He may have a chance against Calzaghe, but only if his power is able to do what nobody else has ever really done, hurt Joe, but that's a big ask for a MW taking on the guy who is champ at BOTH weightclasses above him. I have yet to be convinced that he really does have this incredible power everyone talks about, and to beat Joe he will need it.