Super Middleweight

According to ESPN.com’s UK branch, current IBF super middleweight titlist and three-time world champion Carl Froch will announce his next opponent tomorrow (Monday, August 20) for a November defense in his hometown of Nottingham.

After defeating Lucian Bute via devastating fifth-round TKO in May to wrest the IBF strap from the favored, Canadian-based Romanian, Froch (29-2, 21 KO) is certainly entitled to a less taxing, hometown date for his first defense.

Froch, who has faced a murderers row of super middleweight champions and contenders dating back to before his participation in the intensive and insanely competitive Super Six World Boxing Classic, perhaps also deserves a somewhat soft-touch for his November bout given that Bute (30-1, 24 KO) has exercised his rematch clause.

This means Froch will again be hitting the road and travelling to Montreal for a title fight after both boxers have sufficiently recuperated from their interim bouts.

Adding intrigue to Froch’s opponent announcement is the speculation that the opponent could be Nicholson Poulard, as reported by Dave Spencer of fightnews.com’s Canadian outlet:

After fighting much of his career in the shadows of his more famous brother Jean Pascal, NABA light heavyweight championship Nicholson Poulard may have finally earned the chance at world championship title [sic]. Poulard has been offered to face IBF super-middleweight champion Carl Froch for a November date. “We’ve been offered a title fight against Carl Froch,” said promoter Camille Estephan. “We’ll have to see if we can make 168 and whether this is a viable option for us.”

So, is Poulard (19-3, 9 KO) the right choice for Froch as “The Cobra” sets his crosshairs on a rematch with Bute and the potential lucrative options that could follow another victory over the former IBF champion?

In many ways, Poulard is exactly what Froch needs and deserves at this point. At 34, Poulard is only a year younger than Froch, but with only 22 career fights and having only turned pro in 2004, Jean Pascal’s big brother can be viewed as fresh. That said, Poulard does not present the challenges of youthful speed and athleticism that can make a stopgap opponent dangerous or surprising.

Poulard’s two early-career losses can be written off as a product of inexperience, and his only recent defeat was a 2009 setback to Sebastien Demers, a former IBF middleweight title challenger. Poulard’s last three wins over Frankie Santos, Lionell Thompson and Anton Sjomkin have been solid, but in no way does Poulard present the threat of having beaten, let alone fought a true world-class opponent.   

Still, Poulard is relatively durable and possesses a solid arsenal of skills. He has been a consistent performer on the undercard of major GYM (Groupe Yvon Michel) boxing cards at Montreal’s Bell Centre, so he has experienced the electric atmosphere of a major stadium fight.

Poulard’s most recent fights have been at light heavyweight, so the possibility of weight issues could be a stumbling block in negotiations for a fight with Froch. That said, Poulard’s potential opportunity against Froch would be a one-shot deal, and it seems almost certain that Poulard would sacrifice to move down in weight if he is in fact officially given the opportunity.

With only nine knockouts in 19 wins at super middleweight and light heavyweight, Poulard would pose no threat to Froch’s granite chin, and this is definitely a positive for Froch with more lucrative business looming. Despite all the advantages (or should it be disadvantages?) Poulard brings to the table, the most important element might be his connection to Pascal (26-2-1, 16 KO).

An intriguing footnote to a Froch-Poulard fight would be Poulard’s desire to avenge his younger brother’s loss to Froch in a sensational 2008 WBC super middleweight title fight.  While Poulard would need a miracle to defeat Froch, the fight’s promotion would prominently surface Pascal’s name as a potential future opponent, assuming Froch defeats Bute for a second time.

Indeed, Spencer quotes Poulard as saying, “I would like to avenge my brother. I would like the fight, I would like to take his revenge.”

Poulard’s connection to the Montreal fight scene intelligently keeps Froch connected to both Bute and Pascal. Froch’s rematch with Bute will be a massive draw in Montreal, and a second fight with Pascal at light heavyweight, whether it takes place in Canada or England, would likely be even more significant (and possibly competitive).

At age 35, all of Froch’s fights take on added significance. Selecting Nicholson Poulard as an opponent would give “The Cobra” the break from proven elite fighters he deserves, while also paving the way for subsequent bouts that should be lucrative for Froch’s legacy and bank account.  

Kelly "Ghost" Pavlik's rise back to being one of the best fighters in the world  may come to fruition this fall, as current IBF super middleweight champion Carl Froch said he wants Pavlik as his opponent for a November 10 clash according to BoxingNews24.com.

Froch said:

Pavlik has been calling me out, so I’d like to shut him up. If we can get him over to Nottingham, that’s one that fans would want.

Pavlik—who won two fights within a month of each other, one on June 8, the other on July 7—has gone 3-0 since returning to the ring after a year hiatus due to his problems with alcohol (per Yahoo Sports) this past February, and could get his shot at returning to the top quicker than most and maybe even he expected.

Froch (29-2, 21 KOs) is fresh off the most impressive showing of his career where he dominated the previously unbeaten, Lucian Bute (30-1, 24 KOs), in a fifth-round TKO victory this past May.

Pavlik (40-2, 34 KOs) will have his hands full with Froch, but in each of his three comeback fights, "Ghost" has looked more and more impressive and will be near his old self if the fight with Froch is signed for this fall.

Traveling to Nottingham to take the fight could be intimidating for Pavlik, but if he is serious about his comeback, there should be no hesitation from Pavlik to take the fight in Froch's backyard.

According to ESPN boxing writer Dan Rafael, former IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute (30-1, 24 KOs) will exercise his rematch clause against Carl Froch (29-2, 21 KOs). Bute, of course, lost his title on May 26 via brutal fifth-round TKO in Froch’s hometown of Nottingham, England.

The caveat is that both men will first take interim bouts. Froch will defend the IBF title in November, and Bute will look to rebound in either Montreal or Quebec City in the fall, as well. As it stands, Bute and Froch are still seeking opponents, but logic dictates that their hypothetical foes will fall just below elite.

While it is important for Bute and Froch to stay sharp, a loss for either man in the interim would dampen the luster of the proposed rematch slated for March 2013 in Montreal.

Bute had made nine defenses of his IBF title—mostly via spectacular knockout or dominant decision—before wilting against Froch, and the inevitable response to his defeat was to question whether Bute was exposed.

So, is Bute doing the smart thing by opting for a rematch?

Given Bute’s class and his performance in championship fights, it seems premature to dismiss his accomplishments before the Froch debacle, even if his level of opposition hadn’t been elite.

In Rafael’s piece, Bute put his performance in perspective, claiming that it was completely out of character: “That was not the real Lucian Bute in that Nottingham ring on May 26.”

“I spent the last few weeks reflecting about what went wrong, what happened, and the only thing that is crystal clear in my mind is that I want my rematch with Carl Froch as soon as possible” Bute was quoted as saying in Rafael’s article.

Losses are a part of boxing, and despite the naysayers who scoff at Bute’s resume, his reputation might suffer more if he chooses to avoid Froch than if he were to lose to the powerful Englishman a second time. Bute seems to have made up his mind, and his public self-assurance so soon after losing his title is a positive indication that a rematch with Froch is in Bute’s best interest.

Bute’s promoter, Jean Bedard (InterBox), also expressed his confidence in Rafael’s article:

There is no hiding the fact that the result on May 26 was hard on everyone. But even in defeat, in the locker room after the fight and the days following the loss, I still felt Lucian had the fire in his belly to come back stronger and demand his rematch with Froch. Matchroom is a great organization to work with and I have been speaking to Eddie once or twice a week since May 26. I almost know his number by heart. 

The fact that Bedard and Eddie Hearn (Froch’s promoter) are working together so closely and amicably pinpoints the other reason that a Bute-Froch rematch makes sense: money.

Bute-Froch II will draw upwards of 20,000 rabid fans in Montreal, and the event will be a massive draw on British television. Given the tantalizing storyline of Bute’s quest for redemption, expect an American network to show interest and bring the fight to a wider audience.

Froch is already a known commodity given his participation in the Super Six World Boxing Classic, and before losing to Froch, Bute had been in the midst of a contract with Showtime, which had given him increased exposure.

Against Froch, Bute was unable to control range with his jab, and Froch’s thudding right hands and awkward pressure style continuously forced Bute to cower against the ropes in what amounted to a shockingly one-sided outcome.

That said, Bute has not been subjected to extreme punishment throughout his career, and the knowledge that he will get his rematch against Froch in the safe confines of Montreal will certainly bolster his confidence.

The time to analyze Bute’s game plan from the first fight and what he must change should be left closer to the actual rematch. What is clear, however, is that Bute is showing a champion’s resolve in seeking a second fight against Froch.

Should he win his interim bout, Bute will enter the rematch with restored confidence, and it is this personal rebuilding and redemption that seem to be at the core of Bute’s mindset. Whether fans and writers think that Froch will simply overwhelm Bute again is irrelevant.

All that matters for Bute is that he gets another chance, and his determination, regardless of the outcome, will endear him to boxing fans, all while leading to his most lucrative payday. Intellectually, Bute has made the right call.

As for his in-ring prospects against Froch? Let the debate begin.

 As former world champion, Kelly Pavlik, continues his climb back to the top of the super middleweight division Saturday night against Will Rosinsky, a fall showdown against top super middleweight, Mikkel Kessler, could happen this fall with a strong showing from Pavlik.

Steve Kim of MaxBoxing.com tweeted:

 

 

A name being mentioned for Kelly Pavlik in the fall( should he look good this weekend) according to Arum is Mikkel Kessler #boxing

— Steve Kim (@stevemaxboxing) July 5, 2012 

 

Pavlik (39-2, 34 KOs) must give his all against Rosinsky (16-1, 9 KOs) this weekend, as a win over Kessler in their possible fall bout could lead to the match Pavlik is looking for: A showdown with current IBF super middleweight title holder, Carl Froch.

The fight against Rosinsky on Saturday will be Pavlik's second fight in a month, as he scored an impressive seventh round TKO victory over Scott Sigmon last month on ESPN's Friday Night Fights.

Avoiding a lackadaisical showing this weekend against Rosinsky is key to Pavlik landing a career-changing bout against Kessler. Pavlik must avoid a Victor Ortiz-like disappointment from a few weeks ago, when Ortiz lost (per ESPN) to huge underdog, Josesitio Lopez, with a showdown with Saul "Canelo" Alvarez on the line.

Pavlik's bout with little known Rosinsky has now become more than just his next tune-up bout, as his road back to the top of the sport he once ruled really begins Saturday night.

Since his well-documented battle with alcoholism and rehabilitation stint at the Betty Ford Center, Kelly Pavlik has slowly begun to climb out of obscurity and back towards the spotlight of boxing relevance and stardom that he used to occupy as the lineal middleweight champion from 2007 through 2009.

Before his personal demons derailed what seemed like an inevitable march towards superstardom, Pavlik (39-2, 34 KOs) had enjoyed a solid run as champion, though he began to lose some in-ring luster after his second victory over Jermain Taylor.

Part of this had to do with Pavlik’s lopsided defeat to Bernard Hopkins in a non-title fight at a catch-weight of 170 pounds, while the three defenses of his middleweight title against Gary Lockett, Marco Antonio Rubio and Miguel Espino were cases of underwhelming opposition supplanting the excitement of Pavlik winning each fight via stoppage.

After losing his title to Sergio Martinez, Pavlik returned to the ring and defeated Alfonso Lopez via majority decision in a close, but lackluster fight—granted, Pavlik’s ring-rust was expected after such an emotionally and physically draining layoff.

Another lengthy hiatus ensued, but Pavlik can now comfortably be classified as a fighter on a purposeful comeback after two consecutive wins and a fight scheduled for July 7 against Will Rosinsky (16-1, 9 KOs) on the undercard of the Nonito Donaire-Jeffrey Mathebula super bantamweight unification fight at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.

In building up to the Rosinsky fight, Pavlik has directed his attention towards his opponent and how to continue his recent positive momentum as opposed to dwelling on the past and the constant queries into his personal life and drinking.

It is this singular focus—a focus on boxing and honing his craft—that will help Pavlik continue to be successful in his comeback.

Pavlik has attributed his resurgence to new trainer Robert Garcia and the decision to part ways with longtime coach Jack Loew. Furthermore, by setting up camp with Garcia, Pavlik has moved away from his comfort zone of Youngstown, Ohio and established his boxing base of operations with Garcia in Oxnard, California.

This change of scenery has undoubtedly enabled Pavlik to focus more intensely on his boxing, and the ability to shun the negative temptations of the overly familiar now forms the basis of the positive situation Pavlik has built for himself. If Pavlik wants to win a world title in a second weight division, this serenity will be essential.

Still, Pavlik’s partnership with Garcia seems to be more about the craft of boxing than finding a quiet refuge. Pavlik, who has been criticized for his over-reliance on his jab and straight right hand, notices, according to the above-cited article on worldboxingnews.net, that his work with Garcia has led to a greater diversity in his offensive arsenal, including the development of his left hand:

That’s what we work on a lot, even on the mitts. A three-piece or four-piece combo — and it’s repetitious. It’s not once or twice in that round and you’re done. Your body gets in that habit—the motor reflex of throwing that combo. We don’t just do something then forget about it, we work on it round after round.

If Pavlik wants to again contend for a world title, it is essential that he vary his offensive output. The robotic predictability of a jab followed by a straight right hand—regardless of how powerful that right hand is—is a bare-bones strategy that almost any elite fighter can counter or avoid.

By incorporating a left hook and committed body work into his repertoire, Pavlik can better utilize his natural boxing and athletic ability. That is not to say that Pavlik is the slickest or smoothest boxer around, but the fact that Pavlik, at 30, is keen on learning and developing new skills bodes well for his future success.

While Pavlik’s two most recent wins over Aaron Jaco and Scott Sigmon weren’t exactly triumphs over world-beaters, they have instilled within Pavlik an essential virtue that could provide the foundation for his comeback: patience.

Naturally, Pavlik desires to recapture the championship success of his days campaigning as a middleweight. Now fighting at super middleweight and not having been in a high-profile fight since losing to Sergio Martinez, Pavlik, it would seem, understands the deliberate process necessary to make him a viable and eventually elite super middleweight.

The fight against Sigmon certainly reinforced this idea of patience as Pavlik systematically battered an opponent who could have gotten under his skin with incessant trash talk. Pavlik’s poise and commitment to his game plan was admirable, and he will certainly require similar concentration against Will Rosinsky.

Key to any successful comeback is gradually increasing one’s opposition. In fighting Rosinsky, Pavlik is doing just that. As a four-time New York Golden Gloves champion and 2005 U.S. Amateur Champion at light heavyweight, Rosinsky’s only loss as a professional came to hot super middleweight prospect Edwin Rodriguez in a fight where the lopsided scores in Rodriguez’s favor were dubious. 

Should Pavlik defeat Rosinsky, he will have triumphed over a fighter who has had professional success after a standout amateur career. The Rosinsky fight is challenging, but certainly a test Pavlik should expect to pass if he wants to move towards a high-profile fight.

Assuming Pavlik wins on July 7, it seems plausible that his team will look to secure a major fight. Pavlik has stated his interest in fighting newly-minted 168-pound IBF champion Carl Froch. While Froch will likely look to capitalize on a more significant opportunity, a fight against the likes of Adonis Stevenson or Lucian Bute—who recently lost the IBF strap to Froch—makes sense for Pavlik, at least in principle.

While Pavlik likely wouldn’t want to travel to Montreal for either of those fights, both matchups, especially the one against Bute, would be a high-stakes crossroads fight.

Kelly Pavlik seems to be in a good place. As for Pavlik’s comeback, its careful crafting has been perfectly reasonable, and, considering everything he’s been through, Pavlik appears poised to continue his march towards world championship redemption.  

Adonis Stevenson needs an opponent. Since hooking up with trainer Emanuel Steward, the Montreal-based Stevenson (18-1, 15 KOs) has won two consecutive fights by brutal stoppage and developed into a feared super middleweight contender.

Because of his late start in professional boxing and advanced age—he is already 34 despite having had only 19 fights—Stevenson wants and needs to move quickly.

Having secured the IBF’s No. 2 ranking (the first spot is vacant), Stevenson has been saddled with a looming title shot but no dance partner to help him get there.

According to Dan Rafael’s ESPN blog, Stevenson’s promoter, Yvon Michel, has been in talks with Golden Boy Promotions’ Richard Schaefer about matching Stevenson against rugged contender Sakio Bika (30-5-2, 21 KOs).

Rafael explains how Stevenson and his team had offered the fight to the likes of Edwin Rodriguez, Thomas Oosthuizen, James DeGale, Mikkel Kessler and Kelly Pavlik, which essentially means they have exhausted the possibility of every legitimate IBF contender ranked behind Stevenson and have now arrived at Bika.

Whether this has to do with Stevenson’s knockout power or his lack of mainstream recognition is debatable, but the fact remains that a proposed fight against Bika would be a terrific matchup.

Regarding a Stevenson-Bika fight, Michel told Rafael:

"Showtime loves that fight. We have all the ingredients of an intense and extremely spectacular war. A Stevenson win, and he could make a huge statement in the division. We have made a good offer for Bika, but they seem to be reluctant to come [to Montreal]."

When it comes to Stevenson finding an opponent, location might be as significant an obstacle as his  knockout power. While it is understandable that fighters such as Pavlik, DeGale and Kessler would see no reason to travel to Montreal, the Bika fight seems to promise a more flexible negotiation.

“Michel said if an agreement can't be reached with Bika, Stevenson's side is willing to go to a purse bid and see what happens," according to Rafael's report. "But Michel has a good relationship with Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer and is hopeful that they can work something out.”

While Stevenson might not have widespread appeal, he does have a loyal following in Montreal, and he is concretely established as legitimately marketable in Canada.

Of course, the issue is pressing, and GYM (Groupe Yvon Michel) needs to secure Stevenson an opponent for August 11 as he is slated to be in the chief supporting bout to the Jean Pascal-Tavoris Cloud IBF light heavyweight title fight at the Bell Centre.

Bika’s hesitancy to come to Montreal is somewhat understandable, and he has already tasted defeat at the Bell Centre when he lost to Lucian Bute via clear decision in 2007 in yet another IBF elimination bout.

Still, Bika has shown a willingness to fight on the road, and other than the Bute fight, Bika has (somewhat) recently fought Peter Manfredo Jr. in Providence, Rhode Island and Andre Ward in Oakland, California.

Before the Bute fight, Bika had unsuccessfully challenged twice for super middleweight titles—the first time against Markus Beyer in Germany, which was immediately followed by a brave and scrappy performance against Joe Calzaghe in Manchester, England.

Bika’s history of fighting in his opponent’s backyard suggests that negotiations could be flexible if the money is right, and Michel informed Rafael that he remains convinced a negotiation can be ironed out before the fight goes to a purse bid.

Bika has an aggressive style that forces his opponents into grueling contests where nearly every round had highly competitive stretches. In his most recent fight, Bika scored an excellent win when he stopped Dyah Davis in Round 10 of what amounted to an important crossroads fight.

Bika’s strength and aggression dictates that a fight against Stevenson has the potential to be superb, and Bika, at this point, seems like the perfect opponent to test the hard-punching Stevenson’s legitimacy.

Kelly "Ghost" Pavlik (38-2, 33 KOs) looks to continue reviving his once stellar career tonight on ESPN's Friday Night Fights in his super middleweight showdown with Scott "Cujo" Sigmon (22-3, 12 KOs).

I will be there live, giving you the blow-by-blow action.

Pavlik was once the undisputed middleweight champion before losing to the current No. 3-ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the world Sergio Martinez. He then hit a roadblock as personal issues with alcohol interfered with his professional career.

In his second bout back after dealing with his problems, Pavlik will need to impress to garner attention from top fighters in the middleweight and super middleweight divisions.

Sigmon, on the other hand, has an inflated record, filled with mostly unheard of boxers and really shouldn't give Pavlik much problems in the ring if "Ghost" is indeed back to how he was prior to his hiatus.

This will undoubtedly be "Cujo's" biggest fight to date, and would put a serious dent in Pavlik's attempted comeback if he is able to pull off the shocking upset.

With a great showing tonight, a fight with current WBC middleweight champ Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. could be on the horizon with one or two more tune-up bouts. That is, if Chavez Jr. is successful in his bout against Irishman Andy Lee next week in El Paso, Texas.

Check back later tonight to catch my call of the fight, ringside from the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nev. to see if Pavlik is able to continue his march towards another title shot.

ESPN 2 telecast scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. EDT

Follow me on Twitter: Follow @mickakers

Carl Froch ended Lucian Bute’s IBF super middleweight title reign with a devastating fifth round TKO in front of a raucous crowd in the Englishman’s hometown of Nottingham.

Froch (29-2, 21 KOs), considered to be the underdog, applied relentless pressure and hammered Bute (30-1, 24 KOs) across the ring for the fight’s duration. Froch was especially effective with right hooks and sledgehammer uppercuts, which consistently split Bute’s guard.

What was even more impressive was how Froch dictated the fight’s tempo with explosive bursts of fighting and a stiff jab that kept Bute at range and backed the now former champion into the ropes.

It was on the ropes that Froch inflicted sickening damage. Froch snapped Bute’s head back with regularity, and any time Bute seemed to be mounting an attack, Froch simply walked through his punches. The ending was clinical and devastating as Bute sat slumped against the ropes, semi-conscious and requiring assistance to return to his corner.

Rematch clause aside, the question now begs: what next?

Bute will undoubtedly want the rematch, but the regularity with which Froch was able to hurt “Le Tombeur” makes me question whether Bute was simply exposed. If that is the case, a rematch against Froch could be a career-killer.

I’m not saying Bute was undoubtedly exposed as a paper champion, but it is certainly reasonable to speculate. However, up to this point, Bute has shown a lot of class and it would be unfair to completely write him off. As a proud and now former champion, expect Bute to look forward to the rematch, even if it becomes his undoing.

Bute’s legs appeared weak and he did not throw his punches with conviction, which allowed Froch to land massive right hands repeatedly. Bute was unable to control the tempo and he was easily backed up, ending up trapped on the ropes and unable to clinch or turn Froch.

At this point, Bute has no other options than the rematch and possible redemption. His best way back to a world-class level is to defeat Froch and prove he had an off night. Whether Bute can do this is a whole other story.

As for Froch, this was no fluke. The Englishman was precise and devastating and his lead rights seemed to hurt Bute every time they landed. Froch was able to put together dazzling combinations, and whatever measure of hand speed advantage Bute was supposed to have seemed nothing but a myth.

As usual, Froch was able to walk through nearly every punch, and whenever Bute caught him, Froch returned fire with a more telling assault. Froch’s long jab was stinging, and he appeared far fresher than he did in his lopsided defeat to Andre Ward.

Froch obviously has the rematch with Bute looming—perhaps unnecessarily so in terms of viability. If tonight was no aberration, expect Bute-Froch II to be a similar dismantling.

As the new IBF champion, Froch will have better leverage to entice Andre Ward into a rematch. Froch looked anything but lethargic against Bute, and the kind of speed and power he displayed might make a second fight with Ward more interesting.

Should Froch defeat Bute a second time—and by the looks of it, that shouldn’t be too difficult—another interesting option would be moving up in weight to rematch Jean Pascal. This would be viable if Pascal defeats Tavoris Cloud and becomes the IBF light heavyweight champion. A second fight between Froch and Pascal would be huge in England or Canada.

As a Canadian, I was naturally disappointed in the outcome of Bute-Froch. I even wrote an article predicting Bute would win a decision. Ultimately, I have to give credit where credit is due, and Carl Froch boxed an absolute masterpiece tonight.