Do We Have a Deal for Pavlik-Williams?

Do We Have a Deal for Pavlik-Williams?
By Steve Kim (July 11, 2008) Photo © German Villasenor

When reached on Thursday afternoon at the Top Rank offices in Las Vegas, Bob Arum believed he had a deal in place for his middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik to face the current WBO welterweight titlist, Paul Williams, on September 27th in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

"I'm dealing with (Dan) Goossen, it's a deal. But I'm not sure," said the veteran promoter. When asked why he was unsure, Arum would say, "Goossen. You never know if it's a deal. I think there is a deal. But if my life depended on it, I wouldn't swear to it. With Goossen, you're never quite sure."

Where's Monty Hall when you need him?

Goossen could not be reached for comment by Maxboxing, as he is in Germany with Tony Thompson, who faces Wladimir KIitschko this weekend for the IBF heavyweight title.

Arum says that Plan B in this equation would be Allan Green.

PLANET PACMAN

Manny Pacquiao's next outing will come on November 15th and not the week before, as originally planned.

"The only reason we were going the 8th was because that was the only date that Mandalay Bay was available but with what happened, Mandalay Bay is not available," explained Arum, alluding to the fact that the MGM-Mirage basically booted them off that date and their property in exchange for the Ricky Hatton-Paulie Malignaggi bout that will take place on November 22nd at the MGM Grand. "So November 15th is the preferable date because both HBO and Showtime told us they'd rather go with pay-per-view on the 15th."

As for where it will take place on the strip, "The venue looks like it will be Planet Hollywood," Arum would say. "In the Theater of the Performing Arts, it's beautiful. 7,400 seats, it's sensational. And the overflow can watch in on closed-circuit - 5,000 closed-circuit seats."

'The Pac Man' will face either Edwin Valero or Humberto Soto. Which network the fight will land on is not clear.

"Whoever offers us the better deal as far as working with us to publicize the fight is going to get it. In other words, as long as we get the use of their assets to promote the fight," said Arum, who has made similar statements many times before, always going back to HBO.

I guess he's the boy who cried Showtime.

SHOWTIME INDEED

Showtime is adding to an already strong fall schedule, as I've been told that finally the long-awaited light heavyweight duel between Chad Dawson and Antonio Tarver will take place on October 11th, with a possibility of the delay broadcast of the WBC heavyweight title tilt between Sam Peter and Vitali Klitschko (knock on wood) on the same telecast.

This on the heels of their September 13th telecast that features lightweight champion Nate Campbell and two-time world titlist, Joan Guzman.

It's refreshing to see that at least some networks aren't putting all their fights on pay-per-view.

TAYLOR MADE OPPONENT?

November 8th is being slotted by HBO for the return of Jermain Taylor, coming off consecutive losses to Kelly Pavlik. It was assumed that his bout with Carl Froch, for the vacant WBC 168-pound title, would mark his return.

But a familiar face could be tabbed as his opponent instead.

"Right now, with ratings what they are and everything else, HBO is looking for a more recognizable matchup and there's significantly more money for Jeff Lacy," said Taylor's promoter, Lou DiBella, speaking of Taylor's former Olympic teammate. "Now, Lacy has to fight Epi Mendoza. Jermain really feels a connection to the 'BC because he fought for them and held their junior titles. So if something happens with Lacy when he fights Mendoza and he gets hurt or can't fight, the purse bid (for Froch-Taylor) is three days later. We're going to fight Froch."

Lacy-Mendoza takes place on July 23rd.

"We haven't totally discounted fighting Froch. But there is such a disparity in money from the network, the network is pushing for Jermain and Lacy. That's probably the fight we'll see."

DiBella also mentions that Taylor would not go overseas to face Froch.

FRIDAY FLURRIES

Joe Cortez will be the third man in the ring for Klitschko-Thompson. Yeah, be very worried....Jose Luis Castillo will come back now as a welterweight on July 30th against Sebastian Lujan as the main event on ESPN2. And if he fails to make weight here, he'll just move up to 154 (and then 160...)....If I'm the Lakers I make that trade for Ron Artest (with Kenny Thomas and his huge contract thrown in) for Lamar Odom. I like Odom, but Artest is the doberman defender on the wing they need and he brings them much needed toughness. Although he is a bit crazy, I do admit....If 'The Contender' doesn't work out on 'Versus', will they go to cable access after that?.....The bout between Adrian Diaconu and Glen Johnson for the WBC title that Dawson vacated should be a good one. Let's hope it's televised back to the States.....Has Vitali injured himself in training and pulled out of the Peter fight, yet? OK, just checking.....

For Questions or Comments
E-Mail Steve Kim at k9kim@maxboxing.com

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