by James Slater: According to ESPN.com, middleweight king Kelly Pavlik’s second world title defence is already being discussed by promoter Bob Arum. Top scribe Dan Rafael, in speaking with Arum revealed how a bout with the tough Mexican, Marco Antonio Rubio is being set for Pavlik’s next defence assuming “The Ghost” does as most feel he will and beats Welshman Gary Lockett in defence number one this coming June..
The Rubio fight is being lined up for late September and Arum also stated how he would very much like to have rival world middleweight champion Arthur Abraham fight on the same card in defence of his belt. The overall plan, then, would be for Pavlik and Abraham to meet in a huge unification showdown in either late 2008 or early 2009.
“That’s the plan we have,” Arum told ESPN. “Rubio is a tough opponent and a good puncher.”
Looking ahead is part of the job for as experienced a promoter as Bob Arum, but Kelly Pavlik won’t be overlooking Lockett.
“We have to get by Gary Lockett first.” said Cameron Dunkin, Pavlik’s manager. “We don’t like to look ahead, believe me. I won’t even talk to Kelly about it [Arum’s plan for the future] until after the Lockett fight. That’s the way Kelly is. He doesn’t’ want to talk about it because he takes every opponent seriously,” Dunkin added.
As far as the fans go, Arum’s plan is a good one. Wanting to see the explosive Pavlik in action as much as possible, fight fans will be pleased to hear of the busy schedule Arum speaks of. Providing Kelly does indeed get past Lockett, Rubio will likely provide a good challenge. Currently 41-4-1(36) the Mexican banger has won his last seven fights, all but one inside the distance. Yes, the 27 year old has been stopped twice – once very early in his career, the other time coming via a shock (and very possibly something of a fluke) one round count out against Kofi Jantuah back in September of 2004 on the under card of the huge Hopkins-De La Hoya bill – but he is normally a tough and durable fighter.
Rubio’s other losses have come against Kassim Ouma and Zaurbek Baysanguro, both of these defeats coming on points over twelve rounds. With the stoppage win he scored over the big punching Jose Luis Zertuche in his last fight, Rubio proved he is a good fighter. Indeed, with all due respect to Gary Lockett, the Mexican figures to give Pavlik a harder title defence than the man from Wales.
Let’s see if “The ghost” can indeed get past both Lockett and Rubio – and then get it on with Arthur Abraham!