Kelly Pavlik: Time to Step Aside, Vacate The Crown?

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

By Cliff Rold - Be careful of wishes which come true.

Heading into his 2007 defense against Kelly Pavlik, then-World Middleweight champion Jermain Taylor was taking his lumps. He’d captured and kept the title from modern legend Bernard Hopkins in controversial fashion. Following Hopkins, he defended against a Winky Wright who had won eleven straight and unified the Jr. Middleweight division. The result was a draw with arguments on both sides about the result.

Taylor followed with what passed for soft touches. A defense against former Jr. Middleweight titlist Kasim Ouma and former undisputed World Welterweight champion Cory Spinks produced wins but nothing aesthetically pleasing. In none of these fights, from Hopkins to Spinks, did Taylor look the part of gilded star he’d been built, largely on HBO, to play. The critics were howling and the fans were losing patience. It was time for Taylor to be THE champ or be pushed aside. [details]

[Matt Marvelous]

Please do. He's been about the worst Middleweight Champion I could possibly imagine.

[mtgawafan]

Unprofessional MFer that Pav-Licks dude.

[BG_Knocc_Out]

This staph infection has take a toll on his career and the division itself.

[Glamour Puss]

Man they're really kickin' Kelly while he's down these days huh??

[Freddy Krueger]

Paul Williams can own 160, but no one is their except Sturm and I'd pick Pwills to stop Sturm.

[Doctor_Tenma]

Man they're really kickin' Kelly while he's down these days huh??

There is alot more to it then that. Keep in mind he wanted no part of AA and was looking to face Sergio Mora.

What I'm wondering is, why did the doctors clear him to fight? Something ain't right man.

[Crazylegs77]

I dont care...if he does vacate the belts then the 2 top middleweight contenders should duke it out for the belts and I dont consider Williams as a top MW as he has only beat Kolle and Winky...Whatever the case..whoever ends up with the belt when Pavlik is well he should obviously be the mandatory challenger so he can get them back. Sill it doesnt realy matter as the division right now is thin since many MWs moved up to SMW and the super six is going on so no rush for him to vacate.

[MANGLER]

**** Pavlik. But I don't want him to just vacate the crown. I really hope somebody beats him for it. But Pwill will likely go to 154 and brush him off. Nobody left at 160 to really threaten Pavlik. At this point, I dunno if Winky could do it anymore.

[Kevin Jesus]

Well if he's not going to fight then he must vacate them.