BOXING Pavlik and Thompson set for November bout

The fight will be on the undercard of Barrera-Morales championship bout.
YOUNGSTOWN -- Cameron Dunkin, the co-manager and agent for Kelly Pavlik, the undefeated middleweight contender, announced future plans for the fighter this week.
Pavlik (22-0, 20 knockouts) is ranked from eighth to 12th in the world by the various organizations.
Dunkin has him matched in an eight-round bout with veteran Ross "The Boss" Thompson (26-9-2, 17 KOs) from Buffalo, N.Y., Nov. 27 at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas.
That's on the undercard of the Marco Antonio Barrera-Erik Morales super featherweight championship bout. The card is promoted by Top Rank Inc. and will be televised on HBO pay-per-view. Pavlik's fight is not scheduled to be part of the PPV package.
Pavlik's last fight was Sept. 18 at the MGM Grand when he knocked out Carlton Holland in the second round.
Thompson's last fight was May 8, also at the MGM Grand, when he lost a decision to Antwun Echols. He fought Jeff Lacy for the WBC Continental Americas super middleweight title in November 2002, losing by decision. Thompson has also fought, and lost to, Fernando Vargas.
"He will be the best fighter Kelly has fought yet," said Dunkin.
Pavlik said the fight is an important one. If he can put on an impressive showing, it could lead to a televised fight.
"It is important for me to take him out to bring my stock up," said Pavlik.
Up next
Pavlik is lined up for a tentative HBO 10-rounder in February as a supporting bout to Bernard Hopkins' middleweight title defense with Howard Eastman. Possible opponents are Echols (35-1); Felix Sturm (21-1), who lost a controversial decision to Oscar De La Hoya, Kingsley Ikeke (20-1), whose only loss is to Tony Hanshaw, and Sam Soliman (27-7), who is ranked fourth in the world.
"There will be some HBO executives taking a good look at Kelly," said Dunkin, who added the Top Rank chief Bob Arum has taken notice.
"Arum was very impressed with Kelly's performance in September and is finally realizing that this kid can be as big as anyone in the Top Rank stable," said Dunkin.
"Kelly has been running and working continually [for] this opportunity," said Pavlik's trainer, Jack Loew. "Ross Thompson is a solid fighter who Kelly definitely can't take lightly. We need a real good performance by Kelly to guarantee [the HBO fight]."