Hey, this can also serve as KO of the Day!
Also, if you missed it, there was a hell of a main event on last night's EliteXC/Strikeforce MMA card on Showtime, with Cung Le beating Frank Shamrock via TKO after Shamrock couldn't answer the bell for the fourth round. The last half of the third round or so reminded me a lot of Gatti-Ward in many ways. Bloody Elbow has plenty of coverage on the fight.
As expected, reigning IBF middleweight champion Arthur Abraham (26-0, 21 KO) had little real trouble disposing of mediocre challenger Elvin Ayala (18-3-1, 8 KO) in Kiel, Germany, knocking the American out in the 12th round to retain his title.
After the fight, Abraham called for a unification fight against Ring Magazine and WBC/WBO champion Kelly Pavlik, who is next fighting on June 7 in Atlantic City, against Gary Lockett.
Pavlik-Abraham, should both stay unbeaten, is definitely a fight that a lot of people want to see. Abraham's willingness -- and even eagerness, it seems -- to come to the United States and make himself a worldwide star sets him apart from many of his fellow European-based titleholders and stars. Joe Calzaghe has been a champion for a decade and is just now coming to America, Mikkel Kessler has never been, Felix Sturm is entirely content to stay put, etc.
Abraham's attitude is in many ways refreshing. But as good as he appears to be, the win over Ayala proves nothing. It was a mismatch on paper that is reported to have been a no-brainer by the fifth round. His best win is still the jaw-dropping (literally) victory over Edison Miranda, in which Abraham showed the heart and guts of a true champion.
Most do think that Pavlik-Abraham will come by the end of the year, and here's hoping it does. I think Kelly Pavlik is becoming a really special fighter, and Abraham is a man's man. That wouldn't be one to pass up.