Pavlik camp is still in dark

They probably will have to wait until Wednesday to find out the next opponent.

By JOE SCALZO

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

Over the past few days Jack Loew has been hounded by people wanting to know Kelly Pavlik’s next opponent.

He’s given each of them the same answer.

“I have no idea,” he said.

And he’ll probably have to wait until Wednesday to find out.

Pavlik’s co-manager, Cameron Dunkin, met with Top Rank Boxing officials Monday to discuss five possible opponents for Pavlik’s first title defense, which will likely take place June 7 in Atlantic City.

The possibilities are Giovanni Lorenzo of the Dominican Republic, the WBC’s No. 1 contender; Welshman Gary Lockett, the WBO’s top challenger; Mexican Marco Antonio Rubio; American Randy Griffin, the top contender for the WBA title; and an unnamed fighter who has just entered the picture.

None are big-name fighters — but they want to be paid like one, Dunkin said.

“We’re trying to get it where they all stop thinking they’re worth so much money,” Dunkin said. “These guys should be happy for the opportunity.”

The high asking price was created by John Duddy, Dunkin said. Duddy was expected to fight Pavlik on that date at Madison Square Garden before sustaining cuts around both eyes in his recent bout. Lorenzo was being mentioned as a possible undercard fighter for a Duddy-Pavlik bout, possibly against IBF champion Arthur Abraham of Germany, who has never fought in the United States.

Duddy may still fight Pavlik in December, Dunkin said.

Loew, who has always wanted to fight at MSG, was disappointed when the Duddy plans fell through.

“I thought it was an attractive fight on paper,” Loew said. “It would have been great to fight in the Garden.”

Dunkin is hoping to use the five candidates to drive down their asking price to a reasonable level and said he doesn’t expect to have an announcement until Wednesday evening.

When asked who he’d like Pavlik to fight, Loew said, “I don’t care who we fight. I don’t know much about them. Whoever they tell us to fight, we’ll fight.”

One fighter who would like to enter the picture is Colombia’s Fulgencio Zuniga, who has won three straight bouts since being TKO’d by Pavlik in the ninth round in October of 2005. One of Zuniga’s wins was a split decision against Jose Luis Zertuche, who lost to Pavlik in January of 2007, then was knocked out by Rubio in February.

Zuniga’s promoter, Alfredo Marchio, approached Top Rank chairman Bob Arum last week about the possibility.

“He didn’t give me much feedback,” Marchio said of Arum. “He didn’t know what was going on yet.

“Fulgencio was one of Pavlik’s toughest fights. And Zuniga would come at a reasonable price.”

scalzo@vindy.com