Pittsburgh, PA- An unwritten boxing rule says that new champions get a pass for one soft title defense, and we got on board for middleweight (160 lb.) champ Kelly Pavlik’s 2008 defense against Great Britain’s Gary Lockett, whom he dismantled in impressive fashion over three one-sided rounds. However, the “rule” dictates that the champ’s real tenure should then commence. But with “The Ghost” (36-1, 32 KOs) two and a half years into his reign, he still hasn’t defended against a top contender because of two over-the-weight bouts in 2008 followed by a lingering staph infection in 2009 that twice led to the cancellation of planned defenses against Paul “The Punisher” Williams (38-1, 27 KOs).
… AND DIFFICULT LEFTIES ARE PAVLIK’S ONLY REAL CHALLENGERS
So the champ stands 3-0 in the middleweight division since winning the crown, albeit against the trio of Lockett, Marco Antonio Rubio and Miguel Espino. He recognizes that now’s the time to define his middleweight title reign, and as it stands, the timing for such an ambitious campaign may prove even more difficult than expected. Despite having faced only a few lefties in his career and only one at a high level (Bronco McKart back in 2006), the division over which he reigns features two excellent challengers followed by a steep drop off – and those two serious threats to his crown are southpaws: Williams and Sergio Martinez (44-2-2, 24 KOs).
FIRST UP: LEFTY SPEEDSTER SERGIO MARTINEZ
Because of the animosity rooted in Pavlik’s promoter Bob Arum’s disdain for Williams’ advisor Al Haymon, not much needed to occur to impede a Pavlik-Williams showdown, and much did occur, in the form of Pavlik’s medical problems. Pavlik-Williams just made too much sense, an American middleweight potential classic, two big middleweights with contrasting styles of power and technique versus volume and athleticism. However, with the sides deadlocked, team Pavlik has turned to Williams’ December 2009 foe Martinez, who could have easily been awarded the decision that Williams got. (I had it a draw.) On April 17 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, where Pavlik won his title and Martinez and Williams just competed in one of the fights of 2009, Pavlik faces his first major test as middleweight champ.
IF NO WILLIAMS, GO TO 168? OH WAIT, THERE’S LUCIAN BUTE
Martinez uses dazzling foot and hand speed to pounce in and out while firing combinations, a new technical challenge for Pavlik, who prefers his opponent to stand in front of him and cooperatively exchange. Should Pavlik be up to the task, he may find his blueprint for another upcoming opponent whose style looks a lot like Martinez’s, super middleweight (168 lb.) IBF champ Lucian Bute (25-0, 20 KOs), who fights that same night on HBO via Montreal against a former Pavlik victim, Edison “Pantera” Miranda. Bute may need a dance partner, having been unjustifiably left out of the Showtime “Super Six” super middleweight classic.
LEFTIES, LEFTIES EVERYWHERE
Perhaps Pavlik, with a 6’2” frame, will soon consider a jump all the way to light heavyweight (175 lb.)? Awaiting him there could be yet another lefty, “Bad Chad” Dawson (29-0, 17 KOs). We shouldn’t assume, though, that Pavlik will struggle with southpaws. His straight right, the best punch to use against a lefty, is simply devastating when he catches his man at the end of that punch. The problem he must encounter – one that may guide the outcome of this part of his career – is whether the champ can handle and defeat agile, skilled, world-class southpaws. There has to be someone else out there that Top Rank can match Pavlik against, right? Well, they just signed former junior middleweight (154 lb.) champ and possible Pavlik challenger Ronald “Winky” Wright (51-5-1, 25 KOs)…. another southpaw.
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