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Pavlik could face Abraham in fall
Kelly Pavlik Fight Night
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Photographs by The Vindicator photographers Geoffrey Hauschild, William D. Lewis, Robert K. Yosay and Lisa-Ann Ishihara.
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By Joe Scalzo
If both win their summer bouts a matchup could come in October or November.
YOUNGSTOWN — Kelly Pavlik could be one step closer to unifying the middleweight title.
Pavlik’s manager, Cameron Dunkin, confirmed late Monday night that the Pavlik camp has been in discussions with IBF champion Arthur Abraham for a possible October or November matchup, provided both fighters win their upcoming bouts.
“We’ve been talking,” said Dunkin. “I’ve talked to Mike [Pavlik Sr.] and Kelly and they’re both fine with the fight.
“But there’s nothing done and it’s a long way from being done.”
Pavlik’s promoter, Bob Arum, told The Ring magazine that the two camps have an agreement in principal to fight, probably in New York on either Showtime or HBO.
Pavlik, the WBO and WBC champion, is expected to make his third title defense this summer against former WBA light middleweight champion Sergio Mora in Atlantic City.
Abraham, who is coming off a 12-round unanimous decision victory over Lajuan Simon on March 14, is expected to fight sometime later this summer.
Those bouts would be tune-ups for a fall showdown — November is the more likely month, Dunkin said — between the two top fighters in the middleweight division.
Felix Sturm, who holds the WBA middleweight crown, is considered the third-best fighter in the division.
Abraham has only fought once in the United States — he knocked out Edison Miranda last June in Miami — and does not have a high profile among American fight fans. Consequently, Arum told The Ring he would not pursue a pay-per-view bout.
“Talks are going on right now. It’s going to happen. Kelly has definitely signed off on it, and Abraham wants it too,” said Arum.
After Abraham’s win over Simon, he told reporters he wanted to fight Pavlik before moving up to super middleweight. Pavlik has repeatedly said he’d like to unify the titles and would like to fight Abraham.
scalzo@vindy.com