Abraham-Sturm Unlikely, Arthur Eyes Kelly Pavlik in 09

[Brassangel]

do you know what is going on with WINKY WRIGHT and VERNON FORREST, it's like these guys have totally totally disappeared?

They aren't relevant draws in the middleweight division. It's about prime and youth right now.

I have been wanting to see this fight happen for quite some time. Before Hopkins handed his ass to him, I would have had a hard time predicting a winner but given recent events I think Abraham will KO Pavlik and beat him bad enough to take the spotlight off of Pavlik for a long time. I don't like to route against Pavlik and like the guy but I feel he's got a lot to prove after that last outing. Abraham by KO in 4 if this fight goes down.

Wrong. It was an awkward style situation for Pavlik, even Hopkins concedes that. He's a young, inexperienced guy who fights well at 160. He tried to put on 10-15 pounds and fight a wily old veteran in a very lazy fashion. He basically stood still, hoping that B-Hop would tire himself out so he could pressure him. Instead, Pavlik had his confidence punched out of him, and he was too sloth-like from the weight gain to storm back into the fight.

Bernard spent the enire fight on Kelly's left side to avoid the straight right hand. Had he (Pavlik) simply taken a step to his left, thrown left hooks to back Hopkins up, and then fired the double-jab to keep the pressure on, he would have exhausted the 43 year old in 8-9 rounds.

It was very simple things that made the fight what it was, and Kelly simply under-prepared. Did you see what Hopkins said to Pavlik after the fight? He walked right over to him and said, "You're a bad dude. Go back to 160, work on (A), (B), and (C), and reign like I did. You can be the best middleweight champion..."

Even he sees that it was a style and preparation issue. Pavlik will come back just fine. Nobody at 160 will beat him for a long, long time.

[BattlingNelson]

I still believe this fight comes off. The demand in Germany is huge. I think this is just maneuvering for the best negotiating positions.

[Kris Silver]

He's a young, inexperienced guy who fights well at 160. He tried to put on 10-15 pounds and fight a wily old veteran in a very lazy fashion. He basically stood still, hoping that B-Hop would tire himself out so he could pressure him.

Pavlik went up 10 lbs to 170 for that fight. He'd already fought at 166. Both these weights around 2 lbs either side of SMW, one division above MW.

The weight excuse is over played. If Kelly cannot perform at 2 lbs above SMW where his natural weight isn't far off and he'll eventually have to fight at, then he's not as talented a fighter as was made out.

He was totally out classed by Hopkins in every round, you'd expect some good shots from him, but hardly any. Luckily there's no one out there with such good tactics, defence and slickness, but it still showed some elements that give him trouble.

[AintGottaClue]

"tied to rival television stations" .....thats really really lame......... this fight has to happen sometime

[UTFISH]

Horse ****! The money could easily be produced in Germany alone and HBO would definately carry this fight stateside because the winner would be Pavliks next opponent. Sturm's controversial loss to DeLaHoya and great interest in Abraham right now makes it even more desireable/maketable.