Kelly Pavlik vs Iran Barkley

**Gorgeous George** · 03-12-2009, 10:43 PM

Originally posted by klipsch speaker

kelly pavlik's choice of opposition is disappointing. If it wasn't enough that today's middleweight picture is relatively weak, we have a champion fighting someone from a division below instead of abraham and sturm... Iran barkley on the other hand despite some people belittling his skills was more fortunate to be on the same era with some of the best middleweights ever... Nunn, toney, mccallum, olajide, benn, eubanks, duran, norris and hearns... Barkley faced them all... Although he lost, his performnce against duran was superb and courageous... It is just that there was no denying duran's place in history that night...

I'd say barkley punishes pavlik on this one in a foty candidate...

john duddy.

**Dan...** · 03-12-2009, 10:44 PM

Would have been an absolute war for sure.

**Silencers** · 03-12-2009, 10:48 PM

Would've been a great fight, whoever lands the first bomb wins.

**-Antonio-** · 03-12-2009, 10:48 PM

Here's the thing. His title defenses have been disapointing, but who else has faced guys as good as B Hop and Taylor in three of their last five fights?

To answer your question, I'd say Pavlik takes him. Barkley would give him hell though.

**BadNewz** · 03-12-2009, 10:49 PM

If Pavlik boxed in that era instead, he would have been Darrin Van Horn, and yall remember what Barkley did to Van Horn.

The only reason why someone like Pavlik can be the #1 middleweight today is cuz great athletes that size almost never choose boxing as their sport anymore. They're all playing point guard or wide receiver instead, just like all the great heavyweight athletes are playing small forward or linebacker. Pavlik is garbage.

**Slater P Persin** · 03-12-2009, 10:51 PM

Originally posted by -Antonio-

Here's the thing. His title defenses have been disapointing, but who else has faced guys as good as B Hop and Taylor in three of their last five fights?

Bhop........

**klipsch speaker** · 03-12-2009, 10:58 PM

OK, Pavlik faced Hopkins and he lost badly. He defeated Taylor twice ok...

What of Barkley? He lost a slim decision to the great Roberto Duran in a great performnce and Defeated the great Tommy Hearns twice... Is beating Jermain twice better than beating Hearns twice? Barkley also managed to win championships in 3 different weight classes...

**Steak** · 03-12-2009, 11:27 PM

Barkley would knock out Pavlik, and it wouldnt take that long. probebly around the 5th or 6th round.

he was much more skilled than some people give him credit for, was tough as nails, hit very hard, threw a ton of punches and had a nasty counter left hook

Pavlik would jab jab right hand all night, and eventually Barkley's counter left hook would take advantage of that slow right hand, because Pavlik leaves it out there too long after he throws it.

Kelly Pavlik vs Iran Barkley