On reflection, was Pavlik really that good?

[MartinM.]

Better than most. Good not great.

I notice this happens a lot when a fighter loses, their past accomplishments are forgotten. Ricky Hatton, for example became a bum after he lost to the #1 and #2 pfp. Hatton was never great, but i would never call him a bum, he was good at what he did the same with pavlik

[j.one]

I think Pavlik was very good, but he was better (more energetic, enthusiastic and sure of himself) before the Hopkins fight.

He seemed less confident against Rubio, although he easily won. However, in his last fight in December against Espino, he was starting to look better...

But now it's going to be really tough for him to come back.

Paul Williams would have been a good style matchup for Kelly, but the decision to fight Bernard Hopkins was a poor one by Bob Arum.

And whoever matched him against Martinez must have wanted to see Kelly lose, because Sergio is as bad a style matchup for him as could possibly be made!

Agree 100% he will have to fight guys like Abraham Froch Kessler, even the Margorito fight would be better for him from a stylistic stand point. he will need to be in bralws with guys who rely on the same things he does to make for good and yet winable fights...Pure boxers will eat his ass alive. My friend is a huge Pavlik fan and he just didn't see this coming, he assumed Hopkins was just way to good even at his age...Truth is Bernard was way too good but more so he was way too skilled as was Martinez and with the lack of confidence and his will seemingly lessened it was a really bad fight to make for him. Williams would have been a better fight for him because of his questionable power and his willingness to come forward. IMO.

[123tyson123]

Pavliks obviously a very tough fighter and has picked up some good wins over the last few years. Hes been in some exciting wars and proved himself to be the best middleweight, until now. I think he deserves all the credit in the world for achieving what he has done although theres no doubt people where over rating him.

[gratz_the_king]

pavlik is a case of one of those guys who is lied to all his career

by his promoters, his trainers, his fans, etc.

at some point he will even believe the lies himself


the truth, however, is that he was NEVER really that good...his biggest wins are against taylor, and honestly taylor himself is ANOTHER fighter just like pavlik - a guy who was never that good.

when taylor stepped up to elite competition, he got tooled every time, and his biggest wins arent that impressive either...same with miranda, and now pavlik. all 3 are examples of guys who were lied to throughout their careers and tricked into believing they were something special when they really werent

pavlik will never beat an elite opponent the remainder of his career. he can only beat C class fighters like himself

[Suckmedry]

Kelly gave a good account of himself today and he started figuring Sergio out until he got cut and Sergio regained confidence and ran away with the fight.