|
By Manny V. - 1. Kelly Pavlik has announced that he will be moving up to 168 pounds and will not exercise his rematch clause with WBC middleweight champion Sergio Martinez. Instead HBO is reportedly greasing the wheels for him to face Super Middleweight Champion Lucian Bute. For Pavlik, that would be like running from the fox to the wolf. Both Martinez and Bute are fast moving southpaws with enough ability to box circles around the slow moving Pavlik; except Bute has an even bigger punch. If Pavlik were to face Bute and lose, that could be the end of a fighter some called the “savior to boxing”.
2. Now that Sergio Martinez is freed up, many have suggested he get in the ring with Floyd Mayweather Jr. Read on for more….
It is a legitimate challenge for Floyd since Martinez is naturally bigger, in his prime, and has very good skills. Also it would give Mayweather a chance to win the linear middleweight title if they had a catch weight between 155 and 160 pounds. However there is just one thing standing in the way, a huge pile of money that says, “Mayweather vs. Pacquiao” which is everyone’s top priority.
3. HBO’s Boxing After Dark card this weekend was decent, but still not the high stakes pick’em fights that it used to be. The two favorites, Amir Khan and Victor Ortiz hardly lost a round. This card was packaged to showcase two young fighters against one guy with no power (Paulie Malignaggi) and another who simply doesn’t throw enough punches (Nate Campbell). The real high stakes pick’em fight will once again be on rival network, Showtime, when Israel Vazquez faces Rafael Marquez this weekend.
4. Speaking of the HBO telecast, why did they drop Lennox Lewis as a commentator? I didn’t hear many fans complain about the job Lewis was doing. I personally felt he was doing a pretty good and brought much needed insight as to what the fighters were doing. The only bright side is Nazim Richardson is being rumored as a possible replacement.
5. The on again off again saga between Vic Darchinyan and Nonito Donaire came to a conclusion last week when the fight was officially off. Darchinyan will move up to bantamweight and face Eric Barcelona (51-17, 19 KOs) on May 20 in Sydney and possibly fight the winner of Yonnhy Perez-Abner Mares, which takes place on May 22 for the IBF bantamweight title. Donaire should forget Darchinyan and face newly crowned WBC Champion Fernando Montiel.
6. Now that Malignaggi and Campbell are non issues in the 140 pound division can fight fans finally see the fights they want to see? The division is full of talented guys not willing to fight each other. First Amir Khan wanted nothing to do with Marcos Maidana. Then Maidana had a “back injury” and pulled out of a fight against Tim Bradley. Now Tim Bradley does not want to fight Devon Alexander and will face the unheralded Carlos Abregu. At least Malignaggi was willing to fight anybody, except maybe Juan Diaz in Texas again.
7. Seeing as how Amir Khan sent Paulie Malignaggi packing in 11 rounds, you would think he would face one of the other champions in the division next - wrong. Richard Schafer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions who handles Khan’s career, has said of Khan, “He wants Maidana but obviously he’s not available. What I’d like to do is make a fight with Michael Katsidis. Can you imagine that?” Unfortunately I can imagine that, it would be another one sided blood bath with Khan winning.
8. And last on the standing 8 is a quote from the always classy Nate Campbell in a statement which suggested he will retire after his loss to Victor Ortiz, “"I've been an underdog my whole life. Guys like me aren't supposed to win multiple world titles and fight big fights on the world stage. I got to do that. I got to live my dream and no matter what happens, nobody can ever take that away from me. It's mine forever.”
See you next time on The Standing 8! Keep those liverpunches flying
 |
