What does the future hold for Arthur Abraham?

[Kirkland Laing]

I doubt it. Honestly, I'm doubting Pavlik's team have the balls to put him in there with Abraham after what happened with Hopkins. This fight should have happened already, enough with the terrible defences.

It's easily the biggest money fight for him at 160 so he'll take the risk. If he loses he's moving up to 168 anyway, he can blame it on being tight at the weight, the potential of a big money 168 rematch if the first fight was good, etc. So I'm pretty sure he'll take it.

Arum is just bringing him and Cotto back slowly after their first losses. No massive fights for a while, just ease them back into winning ways.

There has been talk of Pavlik v. Sturm - Vindy.com Local News Youngstown, Warren, Columbiana Ohio - news, sports and information - Pavlik may fight Sturm

Pavlik v. Abraham would be a great middleweight fight. Possibly the best since when? But, Pavlik v. Sturm wouldn't be too bad either.

There was a thread a while ago about how Strum's promoter, Universum, don't let their fighters near any kind of real test, just keep them fighting nobodies and making money off them. There was some article linked in the thread claiming they were only making noise about fighting Pavlik to deflect from the fact that they were ducking Abraham's offer of a fight in Germany. I think Sturm will stay in Germany fighting tomato cans while Abraham goes for Pavlik and then big fights at 168. I hope at least one of them comes to America for some big fights anyway.

[Rantcatrat]

I was hoping to see more of Abraham on American TV after he knocked out Miranda, he should have gotten a Showtime contract after that fight

He was supposed to be fighting Lorenzo in America (the possibility was explored of fighting on the Pavlik-Mora undercard but the idea was quickly cast aside). Since they couldn't come to terms, they decided to wait for it to go to purse bid and take a voluntary in Germany instead.

When did the thread become about trashing Pavlik?

That Abraham's defense is too tight for Kelly is a respectable position. No doubt that AA has great defense and if he fought Pavlik and won, it would likely be because of his defensive prowess.

However, correct me if I'm wrong, but with the defense comes the tendency for AA to take time off in rounds. Not that the punches thrown at him during such lulls always land, but they add up. Against a volume puncher, like Pavlik to an extent, that could be a problem. Moreover, Pavlik has thudding power (86.11%). A lot of power and a lot of punches may spell trouble for AA.

Pavlik also has a considerable height/reach advantage over AA: 6'2 1/2 versus 5'10 and 75" reach versus 72". Pavlik fights tall too. Lastly, from all reports, AA didn't look good in his last fight. Of course we'll get another look at him against another safe opponent in Mahir Oral (who?). Hopefully, he looks better in that fight.

Upon first glance, and we have at least six months to ponder the outcome, this fight may come down to how Pavlik handles AA's power. If he handles it, he should win on points because he throws too many punches.

That said, there aren't too many other options for AA other than Pavlik at 160. I'd like to see Mundine fight AA, but that isn't happening, and Sturm is afraid of him.

I wasn't attempting to trash Pavlik, its just his mandatories have been against opposition not in his class, and I wasn't impressed with the idea of a defence against a power puff puncher like Mora. I used to believe Pavlik would beat Abraham, but as time has passed I've started to wonder if Pavlik was overrated and I think Abraham has too much for him. I think Arum is scared to put Kelly in with Arthur, he even tried to justify a John Duddy defence instead.

Sure. But, have you seen AA's mandatories? Lujuan Simon, Oral? Pavlik has fought better competition than AA, earlier than AA. I'm not sold on who wins yet, but I'm leaning toward Pavlik because the size disparity.

[Tam Seddon]

I think the fight defintly needs to happen, both men need each other IMO

[Nameless]

I think his career at middleweight isn't going to last much longer, I'm sure he really struggled to make 160 in his last fight against Simon.

I expect him to move up to 168 sometime this year or possibly next year.

I hope a fight with Pavlik happens sometime this year, It's a must happen fight at middleweight and it is a 50-50 fight imo.

That's the fight I want to see: Abraham-Pavlik. However, I think Abraham would mangle Pavlik in the middle run; too fast and too good defensively, both have thunder power but we've seen that Pavlik can go down and that Abraham can sustain the hell of a punishment. Anyway, let's hope it'll happen, first of all.