Kelly Pavlik will defend against Paul Williams on October 3
by Scott Christ on Aug 12, 2009 12:04 AM EDT
in Boxing News Analysis
Email
Print
One of the year's biggest and most compelling fights is on, according to ESPN.com's Dan Rafael. Middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik will defend against Paul Williams on October 3 in Atlantic City.
Top Rank president Todd duBoef, Pavlik's promoter, and Dan Goossen, Williams' promoter, had been in heavy negotiations for the past few weeks. More than once, the talks stalled over how they would divide HBO's $3.75 million license fee and the live gate, which could be around $2 million.
However, the talks came to a head because HBO had given the sides a deadline and would not commit to giving either fighter a date in the fall to fight another opponent. Top Rank had also begun to explore other options for Pavlik, most prominently former undisputed junior middleweight champ Winky Wright and former "Contender" star and super middleweight world title challenger Peter Manfredo Jr.
Finally, duBoef and Goossen made a deal with the Williams side due to receive a package of just under $2 million. Pavlik will also have a rematch clause at his option in the event he loses, one of the points of contention during the negotiations.
"Goossen and I have agreed to all terms and we are going to contract for the fight," duBoef told ESPN.com. "We look forward to a formal announcement."
Said Goossen, "I'm just happy that we've finally come to terms and gotten this resolved. Now we can move forward."
A news conference is being planned for next Tuesday in New York.
It's great, great news for boxing fans. A legit world champion defending in a big fight against a legit challenger. There's not a better opponent out there for Kelly Pavlik, and there probably isn't one out there for Paul Williams, either. The lanky Williams will get his chin tested at 160 by a guy who can flat out bomb as a middleweight, and Pavlik will face plenty of challenge from Williams' 82-inch reach, busy hands, and southpaw stance.
It's a fight that stacks up on paper as one that has almost no chance of being unpleasant to watch. Williams is really aggressive and Pavlik will have to dig down deep with power shots. I don't think there's much argument for Pavlik winning a "boxing match"; he's going to have to hurt Williams and keep him from punching a mile a minute.
This is a big fight. It won't do massive ratings on HBO and probably won't be a mainstream crossover to any degree. Neither fighter has a huge fanbase. But Boardwalk Hall will be sold out, the atmosphere will be excellent, and both guys are taking a huge risk with this fight. You can't ask for much more than the sport's elites duking it out. That's what we have with Pavlik-Williams.
36 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Destroy is a nice word that you are using to describe what is going to happen here. Paul Williams is a freak who happens to be pretty damn good at boxing. If Pavlik had issues with ‘Old man’ Hopkins, he might as well call tall Paul Lucifer, cause he’s going to be in hell. Williams KO 8, you heard it here first!
by Waldo Rastel on Aug 12, 2009 1:27 AM EDT up reply actions
Check out a breakdown of Williams vs Pavlik, http://www.blogtalkradio.com/SAN-Radio-LIVE
southpaws worst enemy is a straight right, and pavlik’s best punch is a straight right; i’d say thats a recipe for success for the ghost.
The Dude Abides
by battle axe of doom on Aug 12, 2009 1:55 AM EDT reply actions
It’s a very competitive matchup. There is only one real distinction that needs to be made between Williams and Hopkins- Kelly couldn’t hit Hopkins, but he will hit Williams. For a power puncher, that’s a pretty crucial difference. I don’t think Williams will be able to eat straight rights for very long.
The best comparison fight in Williams’ career is Margarito. Williams had a huge reach and hand speed advantage, but Margarito was still able to maintain a strong work rate and land shots. I had Williams winning the decision and he’s improved a bit since then but Pavlik is a whole different ballgame… bigger, stronger than anyone Williams has faced, and with a proven heart.
i’m not exactly sure, but i think pavlik is taller than margarito :p
Ghost debunks the myth in 7 rounds
The Dude Abides
by battle axe of doom on Aug 12, 2009 3:16 AM EDT up reply actions
That’s why I think the comparison is so demonstrative- Pavlik is like Margarito except much taller, more reach, more power, straighter shots, and a proven chin at 160.
I’m not sure Williams is a ‘myth’- he’s a dangerous fighter- but Pavlik is a bridge too far for him. Get ready for people to be talking about how Williams wasn’t a true middleweight.
by drivlikejehu on Aug 12, 2009 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions
Great HBO fight. No doubt about it. I can’t wait to watch this one. I would lean towards Williams because I am a member of the camp that Quintana made Williams a much better fighter. I think he is just too good for Kelly and will take a wide decision.
I am kind of bummed with the nugget that my boy Peter Manfredo was in the running for a shot at Pavlik. I’m sure I’m alone on that sentiment. I would have loved to see The Pride in a winnable fight to become a lineal champ. You heard it here first, if Manfredo stays at 160, he will make noise. He would have upset Daniel Jacobs. He could have upset Pavlik. Hopefully, he gets a shot soon.
Anyway, great fall upcoming for a boxing fan.
Pavlik would have torn Manfredo to pieces. Absolutely shredded him.
by Scott Christ on Aug 12, 2009 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Come on, tell it like it is will ya;
Who do you think would have won? Really? ;)
Boxing is the beginning of all sports. I'm willing to bet that the first sport was a man against another man in a fight. (Omar Epps)
Can’t say I agree. Although he would be a legitimate contender at 160, but that mostly speaks to how weak the division is. Heck, I used to think he could boil down to 154 and make serious noise there, but he’s been fighting over his optimum weight for so long now that I doubt he could lose that kind of poundage.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
Pavlik can’t deal with people who move to their right away from his right hand, which is the natural motion for a southpaw to make. This fight will expose the vein of vulnerability that runs through Pavlik, he’s clumsy with his feet and has no bend in his knees. It will cost him against Williams as he payed the price for it against Hopkins. Williams is quicker and frankly has more dimensions than Pavlik, who is a predictable 1,2,3 fighter.
If you got relatively slow hands and feet you gotta have everything else in the boxing textbook to be successful on the truly elite level and Pavlik is no Alexis Arguello.
Great fight,
I’ve never seen the fuss about Pavlik – anyone from Europe who fights like he does is labelled a “European fighter” and that is used in derogatory fashion – when Pavlik does it, it’s blue collar heart and a throwback style :S
Personally, BHop has already proved to me what I suspected, but the key to this fight is P Williams’ chin at the weight – one thing I’ve always given Pavlik credit for is his power, and 160 is high, even for a division hopper like Paul.
Over all it’s a good fight, Boxer vs a Puncher to an extent, and Williams should cruise to a Points Victory, unless Pavlik nails him, and I wouldn’t bet against that happening.
My money is on Williams (just) – and hopefully this will catapult him into the mainstream the way he deserves.
"Chris Eubank lost his recent comeback fight on points ... the main one being that he's a total git."
Tickets won’t be on sale for a couple weeks, I wouldn’t guess, so I have no idea.
by Scott Christ on Aug 12, 2009 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions
ticketmaster of course. when they are on sale.
by sonofapsycho on Aug 12, 2009 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Keep checking the Top Rank website, a lot of times they have presales there
Also, sometimes the venue does presales (MSG usually does). However, I have no idea if Boardwalk Hall does.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
I could really see this one going either way
The question, in my mind, is which guy will be throwing fewer punches because of the other guy’s workrate. Pavlik throws 70 – 80 punches a round, and Williams throws 90 – 110 punches a round. No way they can both sustain their normal workrates without just standing there and trading, and I can’t see Tall Paul taking that approach. Each fighter’s best punch is the other’s biggest defensive weakness.
However, unless it’s a blowout, I don’t think either guy gets “exposed” by this fight. Pavlik is fighting someone not far off his size who’s a top 10 pound for pound fighter. Williams is facing the biggest opponent of his career by a longshot. Should be interesting, at least.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
I just don’t see how Williams could throw 100 punches a round in this fight. He frequently leaves himself wide-open, particularly when he throws those long, loopy hooks. Pavlik does not have great hand-speed overall but his straight right gets on target pretty quickly. Most importantly, he will actually be able to reach Williams, unlike most of his previous opposition.
It’s not at all evident that Williams can take one flush right to the head from Pavlik, let alone a steady diet.
by drivlikejehu on Aug 12, 2009 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions
i wanted hard to get on the pavlik bandwagon, but his cry baby talking as of late irked me quite a bit. glad to see he’s actually fighting instead of balking at the super six and sounding like sour grapes.
Gatti. Dekkers. Pele. Aoki. Kang. Vanderlei.
http://theworldsoldestsport.blogspot.com/
by theworldsoldestsport on Aug 12, 2009 11:08 AM EDT reply actions
Not a fan of Williams
But I am one as of right now just weeks before the fight.
"Penelosa is not human." -Max Kellerman on Gerry Penelosa during the Juan Manuel Lopes-Gerry Penelosa bout.
Punisher FTW
Mark your calendars. I called it in August.
Although detractors decry (MMA) as a brutal, bloody form of human cockfighting, aficionados know it is a brutal, bloody, totally fucking awesome form of human cockfighting. -The Onion
by The Kittitas Kid on Aug 12, 2009 3:11 PM EDT reply actions
Well, one thing you can’t say is that Pavlik is fighting a blown-up welterweight… more like a shrunk down cruiserweight!
If Pavlik pissed all over the Super Six and then fought some can (or Mora), the guy’s credibility would’ve taken a flying leap out the window forever. But it looks like Abraham is gone for good, so that makes Williams probably the most game and dangerous opponent he could have found out there. Paul shined like a light against Winky, but Pavlik is a murderous puncher when he is one his game. This could be a real classic.
"This fight'll be the nastiest thing you'll ever see. I been sober for six weeks, and that makes me vicious."
-- Randall 'Tex' Cobb
Be prepared for Manny vs Hatton 2
Williams is gonna absolutely demolish Pavlik. Would not be surprised if he puts on a performance similar to Williams vs Quintana pt. 2
Gimme 1 round!
Kelly's right....
is gonna say good night to Williams. Worst possible punch for a southpaw to deal with, and Kelly’s got one of the best straight rights in the game. However, if Paul takes a page from Bernard it might be interesting. You gotta keep Kelly from setting his feet as he needs to do this in order to have alot of power in his shots. It was the same way with Trinidad. Keep em’ turning and they can’t get off.
With that being said I still think Kelly stops him inside the distance.
by SmittytheCutman on Aug 12, 2009 7:04 PM EDT reply actions
I’m really loving the range of early predictions here. We’ve got Tall Paul doing a Pacquiao job on Pavlik’s Hatton, Pavlik laser-beam right handing Williams into an early sleep, points wins, close calls, etc.
I have a new category for you there...
… no fucking clue. This is a true pick-em fight for me, though I think we’ll know early who’ll win. If Williams can handle Pavlik’s power early on, he should be able to clench it with workrate, but as others have noted, that straight right is the classic antedote to Williams’s style. Tough one.
Boxing writer: "Iran, what are you going to do when you retire?"
Iran Barkley: "Rob your house"
I LOVE that this fight has been made. The autumn schedule is absolutely loaded, I don’t ever remember a season like it
Same time period of ‘07 was really, really hot too, but when you throw in something like the Super Six, you’re looking at some awesome stuff.
Super Six
Cotto-Pacquiao
Mayweather-Marquez
Pavlik-Williams
Then you throw in some nice second-tier stuff like Vital-Arreola, Wlad-Chambers, Bute-Andrade II, Dawson-Johnson II, even Valuev-Haye. It’s a killer season of fights that range from interesting to fucking awesome.
by Scott Christ on Aug 12, 2009 9:29 PM EDT up reply actions
.......going with the Ghost......
….by decision. Williams is NOTHING like Hopkins……except for tall and black.
Fight of the Year
Larry Merchant IS God...
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Bad Left Hook
Related FanShots on Bad Left Hook
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
