(Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

WBO and WBC middleweight champion Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik will defend his titles against reigning two-time WBO welterweight champion Paul “The Punisher” Williams on December 5 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

The fight was initially scheduled to occur last Saturday night.

However, the bout was postponed due to a staph infection in Pavlik’s hand.

Pavlik (35-1, 31 KOs) underwent two separate operations to heal his bummed hand and he said he is physically prepared to face the lanky Williams (37-1, 27 KOs).

“I still have a lot to prove,” said Pavlik, 27, a native of Youngstown, Ohio. “Even after the Williams fight, a dominant performance, there still will be a lot to prove.”

Pavlik, who is still trained by relative unknown Jack Loew of Youngstown’s South Side Boxing Gym, was the talk of the boxing world after he viciously destroyed Jermain Taylor to win his crowns in September 2007.

However, Pavlik’s stock plummeted after he was badly outclassed by Bernard Hopkins (49-5-1, 32 KOs) in a unanimous decision loss to the 43-year-old in a twelve-round non-title matchup last October.

“Critics come in boxing all the time, no matter what you do,” said Pavlik. “If I go in there and dominate Williams, people will probably say he’s a welterweight, blown-up junior middleweight, blown-up middleweight.”

Williams, 28, a fighter many onlookers consider to be the “most avoided fighter in the world,” is 6’3” tall and he has tremendous power in both of his fists.

Williams avenged his only professional defeat in June 2008 when he brutalized Carlos Quintana (26-2, 20 KOs) before the referee decided to put a halt to the mismatch.

“This is going to be a real big fight. A lot of people are asking, ‘How are you going to stand up to Pavlik’s power?’” Williams said. “I’m going to do what do best. I’m going to make an exciting fight for the fans and an exciting fight for me.”

Williams is a very awkward pugilist and his style has posed problems for every opponent he has ever faced.

It is safe to predict that Williams will also frustrate Pavlik and force him to adjust his plan at some point during the contest.

Still, Pavlik’s immense power will ultimately drain Williams’ stamina and he will become a human punching bag as the fight advances in rounds.

“The Punisher" is a very solid fighter and he will never embarrass himself in the ring.

Unfortunately for Williams, “The Punisher” is simply not strong enough to compete with “The Ghost” and he will meet his demise in approximately the 10^th round.

Pavlik is one ghost that fight fans can expect to see in the ring for a long time.

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?