Kelly Pavlik Betrays Bob Arum, Turns Down Fight Scheduled for Saturday

Much to the dismay of Manny Pacquiao's (53-3-2, 38 KOs) promoter Top Rank, former middleweight (160 lbs) world champion Kelly Pavlik (37-2, 32 KOs) has pulled out of a tune-up match this Saturday with Daryl Cunningham.

According to Ring Magazine, the fight was scheduled to air live on Showtime cable network, but Pavlik became upset at the purse offer of $1.35 million to face undefeated super middleweight (168 lbs) world champion and Canadian star Lucian Bute (29-0, 24 KOs).

Saturday's bout against Cunningham was part of a package deal for the Bute fight.

Pavlik learned of an offer of over $3 million that was presented to Mikkel Kessler (44-2, 33 KOs) to face Bute. Kessler turned down the offer and Pavlik is not happy that he hasn't received a similar one.

CEO of Top Rank, Bob Arum, had this to say:

"

"Whether or not the relationship continues is not the issue. I'm very, very concerned about this young man. I consider the actions that he has taken at this point to be very, very bizarre. How can anybody book him in a fight when he acts in this manner? As far as the rest of it, I'm not going to concern myself with it."

"

An anonymous source had this to say about the Pavlik's unhappiness with the package:

""Kelly had heard that Kessler was being offered something like $3.5 million, and that he turned that down. So Kelly wasn't really happy with the $1.1 million that Top Rank was offering him. So I would say that right now, I don't think that (Cunningham) fight's going to happen. Unless, of course, Top Rank comes back with something (better).""

Check out my website, JustinDavidTate.com

Follow me on Facebook.

Follow me on Twitter.

Subscribe to my YouTube.