[du365]

Completely classless comments from Kelly about the best thing to happen for boxing all year:

http://www.vindy.com/news/2009/jul/1...on-hbo/?pavlik

Pavlik wants to fight on HBO
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Champ has second thoughts on Showtime’s tourney; says “big-time” boxers fight on HBO.

By Joe Scalzo

YOUNGSTOWN — When Showtime announced its lineup last week for its upcoming super middleweight tournament, some boxing fans wondered, “Why wasn’t Kelly Pavlik involved?”

Initially, Pavlik said he would have been interested, but after researching the tournament over the past week, he’s changed his mind.

“Why would I be in that tournament when I’m a middleweight?” he said. “They never asked me and I never wanted to join.

“Let them beat each other up. Let them ruin their careers for peanuts.”
The round-robin tournament will include some of the biggest names in the division — Carl Froch, Mikkel Kessler, Jermain Taylor, Andre Ward, Andre Dirrell — and IBF middleweight champion Arthur Abraham, who will relinquish his belt and move up.

Each fighter is guaranteed three bouts, with points awarded based on the results. (Three points for a knockout, two for a decision, one for a draw.) The top four advance to the single-elimination finals.

It’s a big career risk for what Pavlik considers a small payoff — about $3 million or $4 million for the winner, he said.

“Those guys are fighting for peanuts,” said Pavlik. “They’re going to burn their whole career and for what? Nobody watches Showtime.
“Trust me, when the winner of that tournament fights his next fight, it’ll be on HBO.”

HBO is the biggest network for boxing and most of Pavlik’s biggest fights have been on that network in recent years, including his two bouts against Taylor and his knockout of Edison Miranda.

Although Pavlik’s latest bout, a 10th-round knockout of Marco Antonio Rubio in Youngstown in February, was broadcast on independent pay-per-view, Pavlik made it clear he wants to fight for HBO.

“I like HBO,” he said. “I will fight for HBO. All the big-time fighters like Floyd Mayweather, [Manny] Pacquiao, [Miguel] Cotto, Shane Mosley, the Klitschkos — they all fight on HBO.”

Although Pavlik has been out of the spotlight in recent months, he still considers himself one of the five biggest names in boxing.

Some have argued that he needs to do a better job promoting himself on a national level, particularly if he wants to earn bigger paydays, but Pavlik disagrees.

“I’ve got enough going on right now,” he said. “There’s not much more that I can do just by me making an appearance with the camera shining on my face.”

Although several middleweights are eager to fight Pavlik, he has set his sights on WBA champion Felix Sturm. (Pavlik holds the WBC and WBO belts, while Abraham’s IBF belt is up for grabs.)

Problem is, HBO recently offered just $2 million for a Pavlik-Sturm bout and Pavlik said he’s not willing to fight for such a low figure.

Although that statement may not sit well with some fans, Pavlik would likely clear about $300,000 from that fight after taxes and other deductions. That’s not enough for a title fight, he said, and said it’s no different from LeBron James wanting a maximum contract from the Cleveland Cavaliers.

He wants to be paid what he’s worth, he said.

“I fought my way up for seven years, I’ve fought for $3 million and $2.5 million a fight, why decline that much?” he said. “Yeah, the economy is bad, but there’s still more money out there.

“That’s like [Browns quarterback] Brady Quinn playing for $300 a week. It’s bull[crap].”

Pavlik said he’s content to stay at 160 pounds for a few years before moving up in weight to fight the winner of the Showtime tournament.

“Whoever the winner is,” he said, “I’ll kick his [butt].”

[D-MARV]

Yep. I saw this shit earlier. Pavlik has turned into some type of Prima donna just like his stable mate Manny Pac.

I hope these two get bashed as much as Floyd has in the past.

[King Eugene]

Crybaby.

He sounds like the dude that didn't get picked for the last spot over the dude with the goggles and short shorts in a streetball pick up game.

[King Eugene]

Pavlik is a stupid pale pasty son of a whore and I told you fuckers from day one he sucks and is a fucking cunt. I hope his brain bleeds one day.

Good luck with the Mora type of fighters you aids patient.

LMAO...Stevenski hack into your profile?

[The Original MrF...]

He has no excuse for not fighting Abraham... These other guys are going on to glory while Pavliks goes up against jr middleweights... Hey, maybe Allen green can go down to 160 and smack him around...

Also Crazy that homeboy disses 3 to 4mil, while making 2-3 mill his last go round...

[Byrd Man]

.........

This post has been edited by Byrd Man: Jul 15 2009, 02:38 AM

[JonnyBlaze]

Geez,he's got a mad thing for HBO..

He shouldn't be bashin anyone who is willing to fight the best..A lot of guys fight in the amateurs for pride,so why would that not carry over??They wanna be the best or at least be able to say they were in with the best..

[STEVENSKI]

Pavlik is a stupid pale pasty son of a whore and I told you fuckers from day one he sucks and is a fucking cunt. I hope his brain bleeds one day.

Good luck with the Mora type of fighters you aids patient.

I can understand Fitz's sentiments as I hold the same feelings on other fighters but Pavlik does have a point. Why should he take 3 fights for $3-4 million when he earnt $2M for one fight & he is the true middleweight champion who can make a million per fight fighting middleweights.

I like the idea of this tournament & think it is a wonderful idea but as a 160lb fighter why should he even be thought of as one of the 168lb tournament fighters? As the true 160lb champion he should stay busy & make his mandatories & fight teh winner of the tournament as "Undisputed vs Undisputed" at 168. Then Fitz can know Pavlik is betting beaten bloody & stretchered by the best supermiddleweight in the world.

[Method]

This is DEFINITELY NOT the best thing to happen to boxing. This shit is kinda wack, actually.

[STEVENSKI]

This is DEFINITELY NOT the best thing to happen to boxing. This shit is kinda wack, actually.

What makes it kinda wack? Who should be added to the mix that actually deserves to be there? Green? This is one of the best ideas in years & having different promoters agree on staging this event makes it even more appealing. Some of the format may kinda suck (I think it should be a 8 man elimination tourny) but this is a GOOD thing IMO.