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Pavlik, Martinez ready for Saturday showdown
Staff/wire report
NEW YORK
Jermain Taylor’s former promoter, Lou DiBella, has an 0-2 record against Kelly Pavlik.
For the past few months, he was confident his fighter, Sergio Martinez, would give him his first win against Pavlik on Saturday in Atlantic City.
Now he’s not so certain.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo
WBC/WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik, left, and WBC super welterweight champion Sergio Martinez pose for a picture at a news conference in New York, Wednesday, April 14, 2010. The boxers were there to promote their fight in Atlantic City on Saturday, Apr. 17, 2010. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
AP
Photo
WBC/WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik poses for a picture with a birthday cake for his 28th birthday at a news conference in New York, Wednesday, April 14, 2010. Pavlik was there to promote his fight against WBC super welterweight champion Sergio Martinez on Saturday, Apr. 17, 2010. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
“Before I was real sure we were going to be 1-2 against Team Pavlik,” DiBella said at Wednesday’s pre-fight press conference at Gallagher’s Steak House in Manhattan. “But after seeing Kelly and sizing him up, I realize he is in top condition and ready to fight.
“Now I am praying we go 1-2 vs. Team Pavlik.”
Pavlik (36-1, 32 KOs) will make his fourth title defense — and his fourth career appearance at Boardwalk Hall — when he takes on the talented native of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Martinez is best known for losing a majority decision to Paul Williams in December at Boardwalk Hall.
Many felt Martinez won that fight, including the Pavlik camp.
“I am going into a very serious fight,” Pavlik said. “I thought Sergio Martinez beat Paul Williams by a round or so.
“Martinez is a crafty, slick and dangerous fighter. That is why I worked so hard in training back home in Youngstown.”
Pavlik made his first Atlantic City appearance in September of 2007, winning the WBC and WBO titles with a seventh-round knockout of Taylor.
Pavlik won the rematch against Taylor by unanimous decision in February of 2008 in Las Vegas, but it didn’t count as a title defense since it was over the 160-pound limit.
Four months later, he knocked out Gary Lockett in the third round at Boardwalk Hall in his first title defense. His third appearance in Atlantic City came in October of 2008, a unanimous decision loss to Bernard Hopkins.
“You will see a great fight and definitely I will take my championship back to Argentina,” Martinez said Wednesday. “All this year I was praying for this particular fight and everybody knows I’m ready for a war.”
Martinez has quickly amassed a significant following among boxing aficionados, and for good reason. The former cyclist and soccer player is one of the fastest 154-pound fighters in the world, with tremendous movement and tactical ability that resonates with purists.
He also exudes charisma.
Martinez showed up for the final meet-and-greet with media and fans dressed in a dark gray suit, red power tie, and rock star shades. He shook hands, cracked jokes and smiled freely — and laughed uncontrollably when “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” played over the sound system.
“He’s got tremendous athleticism and conditioning, he’s always in shape, he’s always quick,” said DiBella. “He fights in a style all his own, and that’s why he’s one of the best 154-pounders in the world.”
Pavlik will hold his final pre-fight press conference today in Atlantic City.
Friday’s weigh-in will be at 3 p.m. at Caesar’s.
“If they’re worried about the referees and the judges, you won’t even need to bring the judges that night. They won’t be needed,” Pavlik’s trainer, Jack Loew, said half-jokingly. “They can stay home that night, because it won’t go the distance.”
Saturday’s fight, which will be televised by HBO, is expected to start between 11 p.m. and 11:30.