Quietly working its way to finalization is Kelly Pavlik’s title defense against Sergio Martinez. While such has been on BoxRec’s radar for about a week, official details are slowly trickling in. According to PressofAtlanticCity.com, “Negotiations are being finalized for a fight that would pit the popular middleweight champion against junior-middleweight champ Sergio Martinez at Boardwalk Hall.” The bout will allegedly occur in April and the official announcement may come as early as next week. What about Paul Williams? What about Sergio Mora? What about Felix Sturm? At this point, who cares?
The first quarter of 2010 has been confusing at best. Match ups made, match ups lost, natural disasters, family distractions, blood tests or a lack thereof, Jermain Taylor’s necessary departure from the Super Six, and a host of other drama. The way this year is going, we should not expect anything until the opening bell. The good news to be salvaged, however, is that nobody is stepping backwards–for now.
Sure Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather, Jr. would have been the greatest pre-fight lead up in the history of the sport. The apex would have occurred at the opening bell and runner meets chaser would have spoiled the whole thing. Pacquiao will now maintain his fan pleasing, heat seeking missile strategy against an opponent who has never been destroyed–Joshua Clottey. Sure Clottey has lost, but he’s never been outgunned and he has never been knocked out. He may not be Mayweather, which is not necessarily a bad thing, but the fight is just as important and deserves to be credited as another step up in competition for Manny.
Likewise, there was some skepticism as to whether Mayweather would sign the Mosley deal. As we all know, he did. By doing so, Mayweather accepted the biggest test of his career and one that Sugar Shane has spent the better part of a year begging to make happen. Like Clottey, Mosley has never lost a fight in the corner or on the canvas. Ironically, however, he will be the one with potential ring rust. Regardless, he is going to bring it for all 12 rounds and Mayweather will be with him every step of the way.
Finally, Kelly Pavlik could be criticized for dipping down to the ranks of junior middleweight to find an opponent. Stylistically, Paul Williams remains the better test, but there is no criticism from this corner regarding the probable signing of Pavlik-Martinez. A decade ago, a still green Martinez was stopped by Antonio Margarito. No man has stopped him since, and some would argue that he hasn’t been defeated since. He’s fast, he’s a southpaw, and he has a chin. Martinez’s lack of power means that he will be in for a long night against the stalking Pavlik, but it is a fight both men need to win.
No disrespect to Valero, Lopez, and Gamboa et al, but the best sports analogy for boxing 2010 so far is the false start. The race was set and then several runners (no pun intended) jumped the gun. For some reason the dude with the starting pistol made everyone change lanes, which incidentally is much faster than alternative dispute resolution. The athletes have reset in the starting blocks and boxing 2010 can officially begin–or will it. We can hope.
