14.07.06 – By Jim Amato: On July 27th Youngstown, Ohio’s undefeated middleweight contender Kelly Pavlik may be strongly tested. He’s 27-0 with 24 knockouts but he has yet to meet a “world class” opponent. Enter Bronco McKart.
McKart is a 6′ southpaw with 54 fights under his belt. Pavlik’s trademark is power but McKart has never been knocked out in his pro career. Bronco has also won 31 contests by knockout. This should be no walk in the park for Kelly.
Bronco won 28 of his first 29 fights. In 1996, he stopped rugged Santos Cardona to win the WBO light middleweight title. However, McKart lost the title in his very next fight to Ronald “Winky” Wright. Yes, the one and only Winky.
Bronco would go on to win fourteen in a row but in 2000 he was again out scored by Winky Wright. Two years and three wins later Bronco was again in the ring with Mr. Wright. This was for the IBF version of the light middleweight title and Bronco was disqualified in the eighth round.
Bronco would lose his next match to the talented Verno Phillips. McKart would bounce back with two knockout wins and in 2004 he would challenge Travis Simms for the WBA light middleweight crown. Simms won a convincing decision. McKart has had one fight since. Yes McKart is moving up in weight and Pavlik is a big middleweight. Also Bronco who won his title in 1996 may be getting a little long in the tooth so to speak. Nevertheless, he has been in with top shelf competition.
On paper, Kelly should win. It is a fight that at this stage of his career he has to win. There are rumors that if he beats McKart, he is line for a world title shot. We’ll see. If Kelly wins, McKart’s name would look good on his record. If he wins.