Is this for real, Sergio Mora is fighting Kelly Pavlik?

[Diane]

Yes, it's true. I heard from Sergio yesterday, and he's excited as hell about it, because he has wanted this fight for long time.

Kelly signed off on the deal yesterday, and the official announcement should be coming out soon. It will be July 18th, in Atlantic City.

I know that everyone will say he has no chance, but I think he'll do alot better than people will give him credit for.

I actually think he can win this on points. He'll have to fight smart, but Sergio has a way of stepping up for those big fights, so I hope that this is one of those occasions.

I agree with you. It is fathomable that Mora pulls it out on points because as you alluded to he is deceptively tricky. On the other hand, because he has the Magic Man problem in that he has no power at all, it is more likely that Pavlik will cut off the ring and figure him out. The fight is also in AC, which is not neutral territory. Mora will have to do a lot to take a decision from Pavlik in AC. Moreover, the fight is at 160 and Mora is a natural 154 fighter. My prediction is Mora makes it tricky for 5-7 rounds and then Pavlik takes over and knocks him out in the later rounds.

This is a more difficult fight than a fight with John Duddy. Duddy is tailor-made for Pavlik moreso than Mora. Mora is awkward and Duddy comes right at you - and cuts easily.

I am disappointed in Pavlik.

His first three defences have been absolutely awful.

Hopefully he steps up after this.

I am disappointed with the whole middleweight division recently. Abraham fights nobodys. Sturm fights nobodys (for the most part) and no one wants to unify. Pavlik really has fought the toughest competition at middleweight, but his defenses have been against nobodys. I guess at least Pavlik took a risk and fought Hopkins, but that was outside of the middleweight division so it doesn't really count. You are right, however, the division is pretty disappointing.

Actually, Sergio is a natural middleweight, most of his fights have been at middeweight. The only fights he had at jr middleweight were against Forrest, and a couple early in his career, because it's not easy for him to make the jr middleweight limit.