There are multiple quotes from Joe for the past year saying he would rather fight Pavlik than Jones. He was saying all along how a Pavlik fight would be a huge fight. He even said he would move down to 168 to do it.

I think his struggle with B-Hop and Kelly's absolute destruction of his stablemate, changed his mind. He knows Pavlik is on the rise still and very hungry. Pavlik simply chops guys down and cannot be discouraged in the ring. That is not a good scenario for a guy on 36 year old legs.

So many claim Pavlik is "One Dimensional". I personally see much much more than that. Nothing fancy, but brutally effective.