Undefeated middleweight "King" Arthur Abraham (30-0, 24 KOs)—who owns an alphabet version of the title—was suspiciously in support of his fellow pugilist, and Ring magazine 160-pound titlist, Kelly Pavlik, in Pavlik's October '08 matchup with the treacherous and seemingly ageless Bernard Hopkins.
No, it's not because the Armenian-German boxer had suddenly become a fan of the Youngstown, Ohio, native, it's simply that King Abraham had some very important future interests in Pavlik.
“I have a lot of respect for both fighters,” King Arthur said. “Normally, I'd say the better man should win, but in this case I am supporting Pavlik for a reason."
"I want to be the first man to defeat him. I want to fight him as soon as possible to unify the titles. I will even come to his home city to prove that I am the world's best middleweight boxer!”
That was almost nine months ago, and most fans are well aware of Pavlik's "woodshed style" beating last fall at the hands of Hopkins; however, "The Ghost" and his promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank, are attempting to remain invisible to the No. 1-ranked Abraham.
Arum spoke to Setanta Sports news recently and revealed the news of a matchup between Pavlik and granite-chinned-super-middleweight-champion Englishman Carl Froch—not a word, however, in regards to fighting the Armenian.
"That is absolutely true, we have discussed Pavlik fighting Felix Sturm in the fall; and then early as next year, perhaps as early as the end of January, fighting Froch," he said.
In addition, the reports state that Froch may defend his super middleweight title against Pavlik.
In this writer's opinion, The Ghost has about as much chance of beating Froch as Jermain Taylor did. It's possible, but not likely.
Pavlik is slow, awkward and fights off-balance, and correct me here if I'm out of line, but it seems that Arum is trying his elusive best to keep The Ghost from being detected by fighters like King Abraham.
The King could easily steal Pavlik's middleweight crown; which would ultimately take him out of the big money picture. Having no Ghost, would undoubtedly cause Arum to endure promotional nightmares instead of middleweight dream-fights.
Arum has long been talking big-fights for Pavlik, however, talk is cheap, his actions prove otherwise, he has done nothing to make a Pavlik-Abraham fight happen; a number of other good names, like Winky Wright or Anthony Mundine, remain unmentioned as well.
My guess is that, with Pavlik set to sign a two-year extension with Top Rank, Arum needs to talk a big game to ensure Pavlik stays put, and scratches his John Henry on the contractual dotted line.
Froch is set to face 24-0 Lucian Bute next, Bute—born in Pechea, Galaţi County, Romania, is currently living and fighting out of Montreal.
Bute is as yet undefeated. He can bang, and he is also a highly regarded southpaw slugger not to be taken lightly, so my advice to Arum is not to count his chickens before they hatch.
Froch may not be the champion come 2010.
Janine Melnitz: "Do you believe in UFOs, astral projections, mental telepathy, ESP, clairvoyance, spirit photography, telekinetic movement, full trance mediums, the Loch Ness monster and the theory of Atlantis?"
Winston Zeddemore: "Ah, if there's a steady paycheck in it, I'll believe anything you say."
—Ghostbusters (1984)
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