HBO April Date Shuffle: Hopkins-Jones, Pavlik, Martinez, Williams, Bute, Khan all involved

by Scott Christ on Jan 21, 2010 5:07 PM EST in Boxing News Analysis Comment 11 comments

Some news from two Rick Reeno reports over at BoxingScene.com today has HBO's April dates possibly moving around to accommodate a host of big-name fighters.

First, HBO's Ross Greenburg says that the Bernard Hopkins-Roy Jones Jr. rematch is likely to take place on April 3 instead of April 17. Greenburg notes they're holding basically every Saturday in April for fights, too. April 24 is still being looked at to host Cristobal Arreola-Tomasz Adamek, April 10 and 17 are in the air right now, with the names of Kelly Pavlik, Amir Khan, Paul Williams, Sergio Martinez and Lucian Bute being discussed.

Greenburg indicates that HBO has a clear stance. They want Pavlik-Williams just like most everyone does. But more and more, it looks like we just might get Pavlik taking on Sergio Martinez. Top Rank and DiBella Entertainment continue to discuss that fight, which HBO is willing to broadcast, seeing Martinez as a more-than-worthy "replacement" opponent for either Pavlik or Williams, which would be a rematch of a Fight of the Year candidate from December.

Reeno reports in the second linked article that HBO is talking about doing an April 17 double-header featuring Pavlik and super middleweight titlist Lucian Bute, which would go head-to-head with Showtime's Super Six double-header. Bute could even wind up fighting Allan Green, who is also promoted by DiBella, as it appears that -- shocker! -- there's some trouble getting the February 5 fight between Green and Sakio Bika finalized. Who woulda thunk it with those two guys?

Amir Khan's American soil debut is also going to come in April, though it could still wind up on the Hopkins-Jones show.

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I'll say it again

I really don’t like Pavlik’s future here. I think he can beat Paul Williams because the Punisher will just brawl with him and be outgunned, but Sergio Martinez would dance circles around Pavlik and, at times, flat out school him. Whether or not Pavlik wears him down and can get the W remains to be seen and he does have a good shot at doing so based on size and strength advantage, but against Lucian Bute at 168? Pavlik might not even make it 12 in that fight.

Also, Khan/Maidana is Golden Boy’s ticket to getting me to plop down $60 on the Hopkins/Jones II card. I’m highly interested in that fight. Hopefully they find a regular HBO date for it though so I don’t have to order that ridiculous rematch.

by jcarr71 on Jan 21, 2010 5:36 PM EST reply actions

I don't know about that

Cintron is basically Pavlik-lite, and there were some times when Cintron seemed to trouble Martinez. Now imagine Cintron had 4 more inches of reach, was quicker, punched harder, punched more frequently and had better defense. I could see it being a really tough fight both ways.

Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."

by Brickhaus on Jan 21, 2010 9:29 PM EST up reply actions

agreed. i’m a recovering Pavlik fanboy, so i’m probably still biased but idk. martinez has proven with the williams fight that even a slickster such as himself can be lured into wars, and you do NOT want to war with Pavlik esp if you’re a southpaw (pavlik = right hand = southpaw killer)

The Dude Abides

by battle axe of doom on Jan 22, 2010 6:41 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah

Martinez and Bute are bad style matchups for Pavlik,especially Martinez.

by Matt (Yorkshire) on Jan 21, 2010 5:41 PM EST reply actions

Green vs Bika

How can you have trouble getting a fight finalized for Feb 5. when it is already Jan 21, thats like 2 weeks away? This is the kind of stuff that makes boxing fans crazy. Thats why MMA is taking fans. Not because MMA is a better sport (because the best fights are when they stahd and bang) but because they have one central body that can make the best fights and not 5 different promoters with different agenda’s.

by DL3 on Jan 21, 2010 7:10 PM EST reply actions

No idea if this is true

but I’ve heard grumblings that Bika is having visa issues.

Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."

by Brickhaus on Jan 21, 2010 9:30 PM EST up reply actions

Well Said

I agree.All the best MMA fights are with the striking.

by Matt (Yorkshire) on Jan 22, 2010 8:20 AM EST up reply actions

If Pavlik fights Martinez instead of Williams, he should fire his promoter and manager.

Williams has the bigger name and is the easier opponent for Pavlik. Williams would not enjoy the size advantage he’s used to, doesn’t have a good defense, and won’t have much power at 160. What are they thinking?

by thp0344 on Jan 22, 2010 9:05 AM EST reply actions

Also I doubt his chin at 160

Against power like that of Pavlik.

"Honey i forgot to duck" - Jack Dempsey

by Drunken cutman on Jan 22, 2010 1:47 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah I don’t understand the upside of him fighting Martinez instead of Williams. He gets equal money at best, HBO probably offers a bit less for the fight, and as good as PW is I agree with a lot of you that Sergio is a tougher matchup for Kelly.

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Jan 22, 2010 3:11 PM EST up reply actions