Pavlik-Abraham: Shouldn't Linear Champions Defend Their Titles?

[The Hammer]

Kelly Pavlik became Ring and linear middleweight champion in September 2007. Since then he's never defended his title.

Oh, he fought WBO mandatory Gary Lockett, who was about the 25th best middleweight, and WBC mandatory Marco Antonio Rubio, who was about #15. But I'm not talking about those alphabet trinkets - they have less and less meaning every year. I'm referring to the Ring and linear middleweight title.

Of course, he moved up and had a catchweight rematch with Jermain Taylor and also fought Bernard Hopkins.

But he never faced a talented fighter at 160 since the knockout of Taylor in Sep 2007. There are not many, but there are a few: Arthur Abraham, Felix Sturm, Winky Wright and Paul Williams.

During this time, Arthur Abraham has been willing to come to the US to fight Pavlik, but for some reason Bob Arum doesn't want it to happen. But shouldn't linear champions defend their title once per year or at least once every two years?

[Hagler★]

I think Pavlik would beat Abe, so Im wondering why the fight hasnt been made.
Im just as pissed as you Tunney that he hasn't fought anyone of note at MW and really if he doesnt defend it then he shud be stripped and it shud be passed to some1 that will

[DrewWoodside]

Kelly Pavlik became Ring and linear middleweight champion in September 2007. Since then he's never defended his title.

Oh, he fought WBO mandatory Gary Lockett, who was about the 25th best middleweight, and WBC mandatory Marco Antonio Rubio, who was about #15. But I'm not talking about those alphabet trinkets - they have less and less meaning every year. I'm referring to the Ring and linear middleweight title.

Of course, he moved up and had a catchweight rematch with Jermain Taylor and also fought Bernard Hopkins.

But he never faced a talented fighter at 160 since the knockout of Taylor in Sep 2007. There are not many, but there are a few: Arthur Abraham, Felix Sturm, Winky Wright and Paul Williams.

During this time, Arthur Abraham has been willing to come to the US to fight Pavlik, but for some reason Bob Arum doesn't want it to happen. But shouldn't linear champions defend their title once per year or at least once every two years?

Wow man, Sturm won't fight anyone, Williams just recently became a legit middleweight, and hopefully he'll be fighting Abraham soon. He may not have fought Winky Wright but fear not, he was busy fighting Taylor and Bernard hopkins. Wright tied Taylor and lost to Hopkins. So I think that absolves him of that wrong considering he also had to fight his mandatory and was certainly permitted a comeback fight after a thorough drubbing from Hopkins. A better question is why Abraham hasn't fought a live body outside of Edison Miranda. Get your head out of your a$* you clown.

[street bully]

Pavlik should fight Abraham, ffs people were rating him as some unstoppable force before he got he failed his graduate exam.

[DrewWoodside]

Pavlik should fight Abraham, ffs people were rating him as some unstoppable force before he got he failed his graduate exam.

Atleast he took the exam. Abraham is homeschooled and refuses to take anything short of basic spelling tests.

[Dubious-Dutch]

Atleast he took the exam. Abraham is homeschooled and refuses to take anything short of basic spelling tests.

This post is pure win!

[whitealexander]

He should fight AA soon to prove he's still worthy..

[The Hammer]

Wow man, Sturm won't fight anyone, Williams just recently became a legit middleweight, and hopefully he'll be fighting Abraham soon. He may not have fought Winky Wright but fear not, he was busy fighting Taylor and Bernard hopkins. Wright tied Taylor and lost to Hopkins. So I think that absolves him of that wrong considering he also had to fight his mandatory and was certainly permitted a comeback fight after a thorough drubbing from Hopkins. A better question is why Abraham hasn't fought a live body outside of Edison Miranda. Get your head out of your a$* you clown.

Abraham & Sauerland have been trying to arrange a fight with Pavlik for the past year. Nothing standing in the way except Pavlik's promoter.

Paul Williams' promoter Goossen tried to set up a fight with Pavlik in the late summer of 2008, but Arum went with Hopkins instead. Now that Arum has seen Williams is getting better, the fight likely will never be made.

Williams is looking for a fight right now. Why should Pavlik fight a bum like Mora in a few months, when Williams and Abraham are available?

Instead of getting angry like you always do and insulting me, really think about it.

[Pullcounter]

Kelly Pavlik became Ring and linear middleweight champion in September 2007. Since then he's never defended his title.

Oh, he fought WBO mandatory Gary Lockett, who was about the 25th best middleweight, and WBC mandatory Marco Antonio Rubio, who was about #15. But I'm not talking about those alphabet trinkets - they have less and less meaning every year. I'm referring to the Ring and linear middleweight title.

Of course, he moved up and had a catchweight rematch with Jermain Taylor and also fought Bernard Hopkins.

But he never faced a talented fighter at 160 since the knockout of Taylor in Sep 2007. There are not many, but there are a few: Arthur Abraham, Felix Sturm, Winky Wright and Paul Williams.

During this time, Arthur Abraham has been willing to come to the US to fight Pavlik, but for some reason Bob Arum doesn't want it to happen. But shouldn't linear champions defend their title once per year or at least once every two years?

pavlik suffered a devastating lost to hopkins and didn't look that great against rubio. he needs to a few tune ups.

[krispy kreme]

I would love to see Abraham fight Pavlik, I just hope Abraham can make 160 comfortably. I don't know if Pavlik will take it at 168.