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A potential fight between middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik and division-hopping, pound-for-pound contender Paul Williams seems to be gathering steam in terms of fan desire to see it. But Williams' promoter Dan Goossen tells BoxingScene.com that the fight isn't close to happening any time soon:
"About three weeks ago, two weeks ago, I had discussions with Bob Arum regarding a possible Pavlik-Paul Williams fight. ... I told him that we would be willing to do the fight at 50-50, co-promotion and each side split it down the middle and Bob didn't want any part of that."
I think both sides have their points here, but that Arum is absolutely right to not want to do a 50-50, down the middle split for this fight.
Paul Williams is a really hot fighter, but that's from "hardcore fans" and what have you. Kelly Pavlik is the middleweight champion of the world, and there's also absolutely no denying that even though Pavlik hasn't been a big ratings or buyrates guy on TV, he is a better live draw than Williams, who did bad gate business with Winky Wright in Las Vegas. Williams really has no fanbase, and Pavlik's fans have proven their willingness to travel to Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall.
Frankly, Arum would be a bad businessman to do 50-50 for Pavlik-Williams, and he's not a bad businessman. And Goossen wouldn't be doing his job for Tall Paul if he didn't demand 50-50 here. It's a standoff.