PAVLIK: THE UNDERDOG CHAMPION
Pittsburgh, PA– Unless the great champions defend their titles 20-25 times like Bernard Hopkins and Joe Louis, and even sometimes in those cases, their eras are defined by one or two significant defenses. Kelly “the Ghost” Pavlik (36-1, 32 KOs) lingered on the fringes of contention until 2007, when he exploded to the middleweight (160 lb.) championship via three thrilling knockouts against contenders Jose Luis Zertuche and Edison Miranda and champ Jermain Taylor. Since then, however, his career began to sputter: After a solid (over-the-weight) win in the 2008 Taylor rematch, he’s defended his crown three times against mediocre opposition who could have each qualified as the one “freebie” defense champions are generally granted in one of the sport’s unwritten rules. This Saturday night at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, where he enjoyed his greatest night by stopping Taylor in September 2007, Pavlik risks his championship legacy against dangerous southpaw Argentine Sergio Martinez (44-2-2, 24 KOs).
ONE BIG WIN CAN ERASE TWO YEARS OF NOTHING!
The Tiger Woods and Ben Roethlisberger scandals of the past weeks and months have made Pavlik’s alleged bar scrapes after nights out in Youngstown seem like nothing in comparison. Nevertheless, perception is reality and, these days, you are what the media says you are, so Pavlik’s reputation has taken a hit, right or wrong. That has been compounded by the soft defenses and cancelled bouts with his other serious contender, Paul “the Punisher” Williams, due to a lingering staph infection on his hand, in addition to a boxing lesson at the hands of legendary Bernard “Executioner” Hopkins in late 2008. The Williams cancellations, as it turned out, appeared to be legitimate even if they were poorly handled, and, despite talk about lethargy and sickness against B-Hop, he couldn’t have beaten the old man with Panama Lewis wrapping his fists, putting on his gloves and giving him drinks between rounds – and there’s no shame in that. Regardless, here he stands, two-and-a-half years into his reign without a notable defense on his record. This Saturday, he’ll either change that dramatically or end his run that way.
IS MARTINEZ ALL WRONG FOR PAVLIK?
Hmm, let’s see: A rugged but technically sound orthodox fighter who busts his opponents up but lacks great footwork versus a smaller but much speedier of hand of foot southpaw…. If the bigger man can tag the smaller man, he might prove too much physically; if not, he’ll get lit up. Sound familiar? How about just in November, when Miguel Cotto gamely but futilely attempted to stop the Manny Pacquiao Express. Pacquiao was just too fast and too much for the Puerto Rican; will Pavlik fare the same against this fast lefty? With Pavlik just over an hour from here in a fellow steel town, my heart hopes not but my head says he has only a puncher’s chance of holding onto his WBO-WBC-Ring belts. Despite going 1-1-1 in his last three outings, Martinez was robbed in the Kermit Cintron draw (I had Martinez comfortably winning) and could’ve easily gotten the decision against Williams. (I had that a draw.) More importantly, he’s continued to look very good and handled both Williams, one of the world’s best, and the higher weight class like a champion. Pavlik has his hands full.
HOW CAN PAVLIK HOLD ONTO HIS CROWN?
Sometimes Pavlik’s trainer Jack Loew can sound like a broken record in his corner, always telling him to double the jab. Perhaps there are times when he should expand his advice or abandon what’s not working, but a repeated theme against Martinez should be advanced: Keep the jab in his face all night to disrupt his footwork and balance, and just as important to set him up for and blind him from Pavlik’s deadly straight right, one of the game’s best. If he accomplishes that, he might put the challenger on his back and restore the luster to his title and era. Martinez’s style may turn out to be the champ’s undoing, but however it unfolds technically and strategically, Pavlik must will himself to victory as if his entire career depends on this one night, because it just might.
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Brian Gorman