Pavlik-Hopkins fight finalized

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Unbeaten middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik has finalized a deal to fight longtime titlist Bernard Hopkins on Oct. 18 in Atlantic City, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said Wednesday.

Arum is ambivalent about making the 170-pound fight between Pavlik (34-0, 30 KOs) and Hopkins, the cagey 43-year-old boxer who lost a narrow decision to Joe Calzaghe in April. But after potential matchups with Calzaghe and Arthur Abraham fell through, Arum and Pavlik decided to move up 10 pounds to face a famous opponent who specializes in messy, defensive fights.

“Kelly was looking for a big fight, and there was nobody around that qualified as a big fight,” Arum said. “Even though we’re not thrilled about fighting at 170 pounds, (Hopkins) was the only alternative.”

Pavlik, who battered Gary Lockett in his first title defense in June, had hoped for a 168-pound matchup with fellow unbeaten champion Calzaghe, but the Welshman instead accepted a less daunting fight with veteran Roy Jones Jr. That fight likely will be held Nov. 8 in New York after Calzaghe recently sprained his right wrist in training.

Pavlik, the Youngstown, Ohio, native who holds the WBC and WBO middleweight belts, also craves a unification bout with dangerous IBF 160-pound champion Abraham. But the German fighter must meet mandatory challenger Raul Marquez this fall.

Top Rank also discussed matchups with Paul Williams, Winky Wright, Marco Antonio Rubio, Randy Griffin and Sergio Mora before deciding on Hopkins (48-5-1, 32 KOs), the Golden Boy Promotions partner who once made 20 consecutive middleweight title defenses.

Though Hopkins isn’t a strong pay-per-view draw or a particularly exciting fighter, he’s still an impressive athlete and a defensive mastermind who will test Pavlik’s discipline and resourcefulness.

“Kelly realized that since Hopkins has given everyone else trouble, that if Kelly disposes of him and knocks him out, it will be a feather in Kelly’s cap,” Arum said.

After revitalizing his career with upset victories over Antonio Tarver and Wright, Hopkins dropped a split decision to Calzaghe in April in Las Vegas, losing his light heavyweight title despite knocking down Calzaghe in the first round. Hopkins, who faded in the late rounds, repeatedly has insisted he was robbed.

Pavlik still might get a shot at Calzaghe before the Welsh champion retires, Arum said. Calzaghe recently has seemed open to meeting Pavlik early next year if both fighters win their next bouts.

Top Rank will formally announce the Pavlik-Hopkins fight at a news conference in New York next month, Arum said.