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Kelly Pavlik has been cleared by a doctor to resume training on Oct. 10, which would allow him time to prepare for a proposed Dec. 5 fight against Paul Williams, promoter Bob Arum said.
Pavlik, THE RING middleweight champion, was scheduled to fight Williams on Oct. 3 in Atlantic City, N.J., but pulled out because of a persistent infection in his left hand. Arum said an agreement in principal is in place to stage the fight on Dec. 5 in Atlantic City.
The doctor’s report clearing Pavlik came in late Tuesday, meaning Goossen didn't see it until Wednesday morning. When he did, he wouldn't confirm that a deal was in place but said "things are looking a lot better now."
Goossen added that he'll speak to Williams on Wednesday and could have a decision then.
“Everything is good,” Arum said. “There was no infection found after extensive blood tests. … The doctor now says that without question he can begin using the hand on Oct. 10. That means he can start training.”
Arum said the infection and a staph infection existed before Pavlik’s one-sided loss to Bernard Hopkins last October, one reason the Youngstown, Ohio, fighter was dominated in the fight.
“That why’s Pavlik wasn’t himself,” Arum said. “He was on antibiotics. He had no energy.”
Pavlik (35-1, 31 knockouts) stopped Marco Antonio Rubio in nine rounds in February, his only fight since he met Hopkins. Williams (37-1, 27 KOs) is coming off a sensational unanimous-decision victory over Winky Wright in April. - Michael Rosenthal
Pavlik, THE RING middleweight champion, was scheduled to fight Williams on Oct. 3 in Atlantic City, N.J., but pulled out because of a persistent infection in his left hand. Arum said an agreement in principal is in place to stage the fight on Dec. 5 in Atlantic City.
The doctor’s report clearing Pavlik came in late Tuesday, meaning Goossen didn't see it until Wednesday morning. When he did, he wouldn't confirm that a deal was in place but said "things are looking a lot better now."
Goossen added that he'll speak to Williams on Wednesday and could have a decision then.
“Everything is good,” Arum said. “There was no infection found after extensive blood tests. … The doctor now says that without question he can begin using the hand on Oct. 10. That means he can start training.”
Arum said the infection and a staph infection existed before Pavlik’s one-sided loss to Bernard Hopkins last October, one reason the Youngstown, Ohio, fighter was dominated in the fight.
“That why’s Pavlik wasn’t himself,” Arum said. “He was on antibiotics. He had no energy.”
Pavlik (35-1, 31 knockouts) stopped Marco Antonio Rubio in nine rounds in February, his only fight since he met Hopkins. Williams (37-1, 27 KOs) is coming off a sensational unanimous-decision victory over Winky Wright in April. - Michael Rosenthal
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