by: James Slater
There's no doubting the fact that the upcoming Kelly Pavlik-Miguel Angel Espino fight is a whole lot less attractive than the originally hoped for Pavlik-Paul Williams fight. And, it must be said, because he will be facing the former "Contender" star next instead of Williams, many boxing fans are disappointed in Pavlik. But the good news is the middleweight champion is at least back and ready to recommence fighting.
Even better news is the fact that the staph infection that so served to hinder (and possibly even threaten to end his career) has at last healed. Bad timing, it seems, is what stopped the troubled Pavlik-Williams clash from taking place this year.. Now fit to fight on December 19th - fingers crossed (no pun intended) there is no further bad news waiting to flair back up regarding the staph infection - Pavlik will be returning to the ring for the first time since February a mere two weeks after Williams meets light-middleweight titlist Sergio Martinez.
Had the healing process been that little bit quicker, the Pavlik-Williams fight could have gone ahead on December 5th. The best we can hope for on that score now, though, is for the two exciting warriors to meet up in a big match in 2010 - assuming they both win in December.
27-year-old Pavlik, inactive since his solid win over Mexico's Marco Antonio Rubio nine months ago, will be meeting in 29-year-old Espino a fighter who has yet to be stopped as a pro. Largely unknown in some quarters, the 20-2-1(9) challenger is no big puncher any more than he is a big name. As such, fans are pretty much having a tough time getting pumped up for the fight that will take place in the champ's hometown and will be his third defence of his middleweight title. But Pavlik had to fight someone, and as a relatively short notice foe, Espino isn't a bad choice.
An eye-catching, highlight reel KO for the champion would perhaps even help to restore some of the lustre that has undeniably gone from Pavlik in recent months. But will "The Ghost" get one? Espino, too, may be ring-rusty in the fight; the biggest of his entire career. Not having fought since March of this year, the challenger really is being propelled into the big time from virtually nowhere. The good news for those people who wish to give a boost to the 29-year-old's credentials is the fact that he has won his last 11 fights, six of them inside the distance.
But who has Espino fought and beaten that suggests he is capable of hanging tough or even beating the hard-hitting world champion? Espino's two losses came back-to-back, in October of 2003 and August of 2004 - when he was out-pointed by Daniel Edouard and then by Peter Manfredo Junior (in "The Contender" show). Espino's most notable win is probably his last one, when he forced Mexico's Alejandro Garcia to retire after six-rounds. Otherwise, there isn't too much to speak of in terms of accomplishments on Espino's record.
But what frame of mind will Pavlik be in on December 19th, and will Espino be able to raise his game and fight the fight of his life? If Pavlik does struggle in what will be his 37th pro outing, the critics will have a field day, and the still craved for fight with "The Punisher" would likely lose much of it's appeal. A loss, as unthinkable as it surely is for Pavlik, would be disastrous.
And will the hand of the champion be 100-percent on fight night? We all hope so. Pavlik is a potentially great fighter and when he's on top of his game he is one of the sport's most thrilling practitioners. The pressure will surely be on him in his next fight though; far more than it will be on the nothing-to-lose Espino.
If he is 100-percent ready mentally and physically, and if the long layoff doesn't overly affected him, Pavlik should be able to get the job done in around eight-rounds. But an upset, though it would be a shocker, is entirely possible IF the champion isn't on his game.
There's no doubting the fact that the upcoming Kelly Pavlik-Miguel Angel Espino fight is a whole lot less attractive than the originally hoped for Pavlik-Paul Williams fight. And, it must be said, because he will be facing the former "Contender" star next instead of Williams, many boxing fans are disappointed in Pavlik. But the good news is the middleweight champion is at least back and ready to recommence fighting.
Even better news is the fact that the staph infection that so served to hinder (and possibly even threaten to end his career) has at last healed. Bad timing, it seems, is what stopped the troubled Pavlik-Williams clash from taking place this year.. Now fit to fight on December 19th - fingers crossed (no pun intended) there is no further bad news waiting to flair back up regarding the staph infection - Pavlik will be returning to the ring for the first time since February a mere two weeks after Williams meets light-middleweight titlist Sergio Martinez.
Had the healing process been that little bit quicker, the Pavlik-Williams fight could have gone ahead on December 5th. The best we can hope for on that score now, though, is for the two exciting warriors to meet up in a big match in 2010 - assuming they both win in December.
27-year-old Pavlik, inactive since his solid win over Mexico's Marco Antonio Rubio nine months ago, will be meeting in 29-year-old Espino a fighter who has yet to be stopped as a pro. Largely unknown in some quarters, the 20-2-1(9) challenger is no big puncher any more than he is a big name. As such, fans are pretty much having a tough time getting pumped up for the fight that will take place in the champ's hometown and will be his third defence of his middleweight title. But Pavlik had to fight someone, and as a relatively short notice foe, Espino isn't a bad choice.
An eye-catching, highlight reel KO for the champion would perhaps even help to restore some of the lustre that has undeniably gone from Pavlik in recent months. But will "The Ghost" get one? Espino, too, may be ring-rusty in the fight; the biggest of his entire career. Not having fought since March of this year, the challenger really is being propelled into the big time from virtually nowhere. The good news for those people who wish to give a boost to the 29-year-old's credentials is the fact that he has won his last 11 fights, six of them inside the distance.
But who has Espino fought and beaten that suggests he is capable of hanging tough or even beating the hard-hitting world champion? Espino's two losses came back-to-back, in October of 2003 and August of 2004 - when he was out-pointed by Daniel Edouard and then by Peter Manfredo Junior (in "The Contender" show). Espino's most notable win is probably his last one, when he forced Mexico's Alejandro Garcia to retire after six-rounds. Otherwise, there isn't too much to speak of in terms of accomplishments on Espino's record.
But what frame of mind will Pavlik be in on December 19th, and will Espino be able to raise his game and fight the fight of his life? If Pavlik does struggle in what will be his 37th pro outing, the critics will have a field day, and the still craved for fight with "The Punisher" would likely lose much of it's appeal. A loss, as unthinkable as it surely is for Pavlik, would be disastrous.
And will the hand of the champion be 100-percent on fight night? We all hope so. Pavlik is a potentially great fighter and when he's on top of his game he is one of the sport's most thrilling practitioners. The pressure will surely be on him in his next fight though; far more than it will be on the nothing-to-lose Espino.
If he is 100-percent ready mentally and physically, and if the long layoff doesn't overly affected him, Pavlik should be able to get the job done in around eight-rounds. But an upset, though it would be a shocker, is entirely possible IF the champion isn't on his game.
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