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

[-Mustang-]

i wanna see this fight happen soon also!!!!!

[portuge puncher]

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?

great ****in post tunney, great ****in thread,
i been sayin they should fight for a year,
its the only HUGE fight at MW.

[Iceta]

Neither one of these cherry pickers have done anything for me lately. Paul Williams has my respect because he takes meaningful fights unlike these two guys.

[The Hammer]

Neither one of these cherry pickers have done anything for me lately. Paul Williams has my respect because he takes meaningful fights unlike these two guys.

Mine too. Paul Williams will fight anybody in three different weight classes, and Goossen will make the fights if the opponents are willing.

But the overprotected cherry-pickers are avoiding him.

[OnePunch]

And thats the major flaw with the Ring title. You NEVER have to defend it. The "champ" can fight one slob after the next, bounce around from division to division, and the guy sitting at #1 will sit there, and sit there, and then sit there some more. That is why unless they change the rules and require an annual defense against someone in at least the top 3, it will never be a legitimate title. How can a title that never has to be defended against top competition ever be considered legitimate?

[DrewWoodside]

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.

If Abraham and Williams are looking for an opponent then they should fight one another buddy. All roads for you lead back to b*tching out Pavlik. I will be the first to admit that I want to see a fight with Abraham soon. But you keep pretending like everyone else is at the mercy of Pavlik's decisions. They are not and Abraham is making the least of his time without Pavlik. Abraham has a resume of can crushing.

[DrewWoodside]

This post is pure win!

Thanks. I don't deny that a lot of blame can be put on Pavlik for the state of the division. However, anyone acting as though Abraham is some sort of gem being denied his shine is a complete jackass.

[BrendanWoodside]

Mine too. Paul Williams will fight anybody in three different weight classes, and Goossen will make the fights if the opponents are willing.

But the overprotected cherry-pickers are avoiding him.

So what happened last summer when Pavlik vs Williams was about to be made? Oh thats right Williams wanted more money and they couldn't make the fight..

[DrewWoodside]

So what happened last summer when Pavlik vs Williams was about to be made? Oh thats right Williams wanted more money and they couldn't make the fight..

Look. Everyone in the Heavyweight division is shamelessly ducking Paul Williams and since a fight between Pavlik and Abraham couldn't be made, the boxing comission ruled by majority vote that King Arthur is only permitted to take bouts against fighters 95% of boxing fans haven't heard of. Pavlik didn't get in the ring with Abraham. How can you possibly expect him to fight live bodies?

[The Hammer]

If Abraham and Williams are looking for an opponent then they should fight one another buddy. All roads for you lead back to b*tching out Pavlik. I will be the first to admit that I want to see a fight with Abraham soon. But you keep pretending like everyone else is at the mercy of Pavlik's decisions. They are not and Abraham is making the least of his time without Pavlik. Abraham has a resume of can crushing.

You missed the point of this thread.

Since Pavlik is the CHAMPION at 160, he should defend the Ring and linear title once a year or at least once every two years. Although Williams and Abraham could fight each other, it's HIGH TIME Arum let Pavlik defend against a talented opponent instead of having a meaningless fight with a mediocre boxer like Mora.