Pavlik excited about possible Abraham bout
Kelly Pavlik wins!
Photographs by The Vindicator photographers Geoffrey Hauschild, William D. Lewis, Robert K. Yosay and Lisa-Ann Ishihara. Video by Katie Libecco and Sarah Poulton. Additional audio by Robert K. Yosay. Edited by Katie Libecco.
Kelly Pavlik Fight Night
Photographs by The Vindicator photographers Geoffrey Hauschild, William D. Lewis, Robert K. Yosay and Lisa-Ann Ishihara.
By JOE SCALZO
Vindicator sports staff
YOUNGSTOWN — Boxing fans weren’t the only ones abuzz Tuesday with news that Kelly Pavlik and Arthur Abraham could meet in the fall.
Pavlik was, too.
“I’m excited,” Pavlik said. “I think it’s great. Especially after I heard he was willing to come to the [United] States to fight. That’s awesome.
“That’s the fight people want to see.”
Pavlik, who holds the WBO and WBC middleweight titles, has eyed Abraham’s IBF belt for more than a year. The two fighters are universally regarded as the top two in the middleweight division.
“He’s tough,” Pavlik said of Abraham. “He hits hard and he’s winning, that’s the main thing. That’s what makes it interesting for fight fans.”
Of course, for the bout to happen, both fighters will likely need to win interim bouts. Pavlik’s handlers are in negotiations for him to meet former WBC light middleweight champion Sergio Mora on June 27 in Atlantic City. (The date could be moved to July.)
Pavlik’s promoter, Bob Arum, said he will meet with Pavlik and his managers next week in either New York or Washington to talk about the Mora and Abraham bouts.
“Everything is proceeding,” Arum said. “We’ll work out the details then.
“We haven’t finalized anything yet.”
For more details, read Wednesday's Vindicator or visit Vindy.com.