Pavlik - Martinez

Is the fight official for April 17th @ the Boardwalk ??

I'm assuming it is but have yet to see a price on it. I'm not sure whose idea it was for Kelly to fight this guy but in my opinion it's a big mistake (especially since he's been in with 2 bums since he was schooled by a dinosaur...granted, Bhop isn't your average dinosaur). However, Martinez is a world class athlete who is extremely savy and the hand speed difference will be apparent from the opening bell. If you thought Pavlik looked slow at 168 against Hopkins, he will look equally slow at his normal fighting weight against a natural junior middleweight (who happens to be really fast in his own division).  Although I would have advised agianst this particular matchup, it's about time he stepped up to the plate and fought somebody.

I love Martinez here and will be waiting to see how much plus (+)money will be offered on the return.

Thoughts??

It's almost a done deal, but not officially signed yet.  DiBella is holding out for assurance from HBO that if Pavlik pulls out, the network will still let Martinez fight in that spot. 

QUIET!

(in other words ,agree completely, please jesus give me nice + money)

Hey thanks for the feedback guys.... some good thoughts about this fight in here.

Yeah, there is no doubt Sergio is naturally the smaller man in this matchup. But this generation of boxing has proven one thing (especially in and around this weight class): Speed is the great equalizer. I don't doubt Pavlik's power when he can find his target, but I believe Martinez's style coupled with his extraordinary athleticism will present big problems. There will be alot of circling in this fight with Martinez moving backward but I believe there's a real possibility that Pavlik will get "countered" like never before. Sergio's "hands down" approach will be extremely inviting to a fighter like Kelly who would love to and badly needs a  KO vs. a quality opponent. I can't see Kelly staying patient for the entire fight and if he thinks coming straight forward (walking down) this smaller man will somehow benefit him.....well, let's just put it this way, that's the potential variable that could produce a fight we'll talk about for a awhile.

I have to fancy Pavlik here. The man has fought at 170 and he is up against a bona fide 154 man in Sergio Martinez..Think Kelly knocks him out. Too much power for Martinez and the Pavlik KO will be the play for me. Styles make fights. I think Pavlik is a worse matchup for Martinez then Paul Williams. I wouldn't bet big because its Kelly Pavlik and I can't trust him (learnt from my Juan Diaz pick over Paulie Mallinggii) but I feel he gets a mid round stoppage win here.

Agree with rich and danno. Middleweight such a marquee division is incredibly devoid of talent. I hope Matthew Macklin or Andy Lee will step up but realistically I can't see it. I am a big fan of Macklin and he would give Pavlik some problems because the kid has heart but beating him is out of the question.

Pavlik is a huge disappoinment. I'm not sure if he was in the super six plans but that is something he should have begged to get into. Could you imagine if it was AA against Pavlik first match! Then Pavlik v Ward! Now the only 2 real meaningful fights for him are probably Paul Williams and Lucian Bute and I don't particulary like those matches for him.

As much value as I hoped to find in this fight, + 130 was not enough (believe it or not). I broke this fight down two months ago (had the winner), and failed to capitalize because I thought I should get back more than a buck-thirty.  

Live and learn.

And Memo to Pavlik fans.......he's not done IMO. If he cleans house (get rid of Jack and the entire corner, btw, cutman.... wtf?) he can still be a threat in the watered-down middleweight division.

Whys Mack05 in rehab??????????????