In this edition of Boxingchronicles.com In The News, the author will discuss the announcement of the middleweight championship fight between champion Kelly Pavlik and former two-time welterweight champion Paul Williams. Other topics include the failed attempt to finalize the anticipated 140lb rematch between Juan Diaz and Paulie Malignaggi, as well as fights for former welterweight champion Joshua Clottey, jr welterweight contender Victor Ortiz, and newly crowned IBF super featherweight champion Robert Guerrero!Announcement of the war by the shore, hoping somebody is sent crumbling to floor!
On Tuesday afternoon, middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik and former welterweight champion Paul Williams met at the NY Giants training facility in NJ to announce their middleweight title fight that is scheduled to take place on December 5. Both fighters were sporting NY Giants jersies. This bout was originally scheduled to take place this coming weekend, October 3, but Pavlik was forced to withdraw from the contest due to a staph infection in his left hand. Now that the hand is just about healed, Pavlik looks forward to getting his training camp for this pivotal fight underway. Tickets priced at $400, $300, $200, $100, and $50 are now on sale at Ticketmaster.
Pavlik stated at the press conference that this is the fight he's always wanted, but it is also a fight that bares the type of signficance that fans and experts have been eagerly awaiting for over two years. We finally see the middleweight champion of the world in a fight against a legitimate threat campaigning in his weight class, for the first time since his dramatic title winning effort via 7th round TKO against defending champion Jermain Taylor back in September of 2007! The fight will take place at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ and will be televised on HBO World Championship Boxing.
Diaz vs. Malignaggi II not happening???
Promoter Lou Dibella, according to his twitter page, claims he finalized a deal for the HBO rematch between his charge Paulie Malignaggi and former lightweight champion Juan Diaz to take place on December 12 at 140lbs. Dibella had some choice words for the Baby Bull, but his since retracted those sentiments in hopes of eventually getting this fight made in a professional manner. As many of you know, Diaz won a controversial decision over Malignaggi in Diaz's home town of Houston, TX on August 22. Diaz elected to decline on the offer for the rematch, insisting that he wanted to the rematch to also take place at a catch weight of 138.5 pounds. CEO of Diaz's promotional company, Richard Schaefer, argues that Diaz was the official winner of the first fight and should not agree to taking short money for the rematch. Hopefully the fight still materializes, as the first fight was entertaining and left the viewers with more questions than answers. If not, there is a plethora of talent in the 140lb weight class and both combatants should move on to other opportunities.
Clottey appearing on the Pavlik vs. Williams undercard December 5.
Former IBF welterweight champion Joshua Clottey, coming off a razor thin split decision loss against Miguel Cotto this past June, will make a televised appearance in the preliminary bout of the Pavlik vs.Williams HBO telecast. Talks of a Mosley vs. Clottey fight happening on December 26 went up in smoke, as did a proposed fight between Clottey and WBC super welterweight champion Sergio Martinez when Clottey turned down the offer. According to Bad Left Hook, it appears as though Clottey may be facing former WBO super lightweight champion Kendall Holt. Why not? Both former champions could use a good win exposed to a nationwide audience and the style contrast in that matchup has the makings of a crowdpleasing affair.
Paul Spadafora resurfaces!
Undefeated former IBF lightweight champion Paul Spadafora returned to the ring yesterday, now fighting as a welterweight, winning an eight round unanimous decision over Jermaine White at Heinz Field’s VIP Tent in Pittsburgh, PA. Spadafora is probably best remembered for giving Floyd Mayweather Jr all he could handle in a sparring session between the two many years ago. Hopefully "The Pittsburgh Kid" has intentions of remaining active at the world class level that he once fought at when he was a lightweight titlist.
Ortiz/Guerrero doubleheader on December 12
Given the fact that Diaz vs. Malignaggi II has fallen apart at least for the time being, there are tenative discussions of staging an HBO Boxing After Dark doubleheader featuring Victor Ortiz and newly crowned IBF super featherweight champion Robert Guerrero. Guerrero is coming off an impressive title winning victory over Malcolm Klassen in August, while Ortiz will attempt to rebound from his disasterous yet memorable TKO loss at the hands of interim WBA super lightweight champion Marcos Maidana back in June. Speaking of Guerrero, how about a unification match between Guerrero and WBC champion Humberto Soto? That has the potential to be one hell of a battle, symbolic of the ulterior motive behind the evolution of HBO Boxing After Dark in 1996.
Photo courtesy: Chris Farina / Top Rank
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