Andre Ward to end the comeback road for Kelly Pavlik on January 26th ?

It’s been quiet overall in boxing the past couple of weeks. Fortunately, things are about to heat up in November and the beginning of December. The year should finish strong as it usually does, and the beginning of 2013 looks to start off interesting for boxing fans as well.

As I and others have wondered who would be next for Andre Ward, Kelly Pavlik has been mentioned numerous times. It looks like the date may be reserved for January 26th on HBO. Unless Pavlik has unreasonable expectations about how much money he should be guaranteed in this fight, Top Rank and Goosen-Tutor Promotions should be able to get this thing done. Ward’s popularity is on the rise, but a fight against the very tough and once P4P list fighter, Kelly Pavlik, could vault him into mainstream even more with an impressive victory over Pavlik.

Pavlik has fought three times in 2012 during his comeback; although it should be mentioned that his past three opponents combined do not muster up the notoriety or skill of any one of Ward’s past three opponents. Pavlik has faced Aaron Jaco, Scott Stigmon, and Will Rosinsky who most of us will never see or hear of again. To the contrary, Ward has fought some of the best competition in boxing (not just the super middleweight class) and dominated Arthur Abraham, Carl Froch, and Chad Dawson.

I don’t feel that Pavlik is ready for Ward, but I would not completely count him out of this one either, if it takes place. He is gritty enough with formidable boxing skill and some flash power that he could make it interesting if he can find some of his old form and Youngstown swagger. Unfortunately for Pavlik, I feel it is Andre Ward’s time and he knows it. Ward appears to be warming up and getting better in recent fights, and his wins have been less safe and more and more impressive of late.

Ward is the cash draw for this fight but not necessarily the more popular fighter. It should, however, be a good venue for both warriors. For Ward, it should help with his popularity and move him closer atop the P4P list or at least the mainstream box office. For Pavlik, it will really tell us where he is at in his comeback and how realistic it is for him to get back to the top where he was three years ago. If the fight does not happen, Ward will have to find an opponent quick unless he waits to make a mandatory defense of his super middleweight titles on June 8, 2013 against the winner of the fight between Brian Magee and Mikkel Kessler on December 8. So, to Pavlik and Top Rank, hopefully you know where you fit in on this one and let’s make it happen. Let’s not have unrealistic demands regarding money given the competition you have fought recently. Let’s wait to see how you look against Ward or someone notable before you go that route again. I predict a bloodied up Pavlik, with Ward winning a UD if this one happens and Pavlik really questioning where he goes next with his career.