Pavlik-Williams negotiations have begun

[Rusty]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/ind ... rafael_dan

"I was told this week that serious talks have been rekindled for a fall fight between middleweight champ Kelly Pavlik and Paul Williams, with HBO making a very strong offer. The question is, will the two camps, who don't exactly get along well, be able to agree on the split? We shall see, but my fingers are crossed because it's a great fight -- certainly a lot bigger than anything else either guy can legitimately make."

For the love of God, please make this fight happen.

[Bayou Tribe]

For the love of God, please make this fight happen.

Agreed, but I am not very optimistic about this getting done. The reason being is this....

The question is, will the two camps, who don't exactly get along well, be able to agree on the split?

Lately with Kelly it seems like the respect shown in the split means more than the bottom line dollar figure itself. Dammit I hope it works out, but I'm tired of getting my hopes up for this one.

[Guest]

I just talked to George Peterson, Paul Williams manager/trainer.
I asked if this fight was going to happen and all he would say is that they sure hope so.
It's being discussed, let's hope it goes down.

[Rusty]

This is a fight that has to be made. A 60/40 split in Pavlik's favor seems fairly reasonable.

Kelly will probably knock him out, Williams has never faced anyone with his kind of power.

It's time for Williams to finally step up and take fights against tough opponents that are his own size. A shot version of Winky was a good start, but I watched him get his ass kicked by a welterweight just 18 months ago. He has looked much better since then, but he still has alot to prove.

Please make this fight happen.

[Guest]

Williams has been fighting anywhere from 147 to 160.
Who did you want him to fight that "is his size?"

Be careful what you wish for Pavlik fans.

[Rusty]

Williams has been fighting anywhere from 147 to 160.
Who did you want him to fight that "is his size?"

Kelly Pavlik or any other highly ranked middle in his prime, that's who.

Once again, I saw him get soundly beaten down by a virtually unknown welterweight just a year and a half ago.

Pavlik is going to kick his ass if this fight ever happens.

[Guest]

Williams has fought most of his recent fights at 147.
How many guys are jumping up to 160? Not many.
I hope this fight happens.
Pavlik fans don't want it, trust me.

Punisher.

[Bayou Tribe]

Everytime I see a new post in this thread I open it fully expecting to see a "negotiations called off" post.

[swerb]

Paul Williams scares me. Talent, potential ... off the charts. Though he is still somewhat of an unknown. While it's really not his fault, he hasn't beat anyone. Margarito's cheating scandal casts doubts on that win. Only other wins of note were avenging the Quintana loss, and beating a broken down Verno Phillips and Winky Wright. Don't yet know what Williams truly is, or what his best weight is.

Styles make fights. Williams high punch output, willingness to mix it up ... a better fit for Pavlik's style/power than a guy like Hopkins, or even Winky for that matter. Everyone that has come at Kelly like that has paid the price.

This all said, Kelly is the underdog in this fight if it goes down. Prolly +200. And it's a dangerous fight. If he can get 60/40, not put his belts up, he may be enticed to take it ... as it will pay much better than a fight vs Sturm, Winky, or any of the other middles out there.

If I am Kelly, my next two fights are against the best middles out there, even if you gotta go to Germany to beat up Sturm. A little less money up front, but better IMO for his career, and future earning ability.

[Guest]

I think the fight will be great if it goes down, I just think Paul's output will wear Kelly down.
How would the Margarito scandal effect the Williams win? Wouldn't it be more impressive seeing Margarito is a cheater?
I also disagree about the odds if the fight happens. Kelly would be favored slightly or a pick 'em in my opinion.
I just hope we find out and soon, very soon.

[Rusty]

From Dan Rafael of ESPN.COM/Boxing

"Williams could land a big fall fight with middleweight champ Kelly Pavlik, but only if Williams' camp -- promoter Dan Goossen and manager Al Haymon -- comes to the realization that it's Pavlik who generates the money. Williams always says nobody will fight him, but now Pavlik is willing to give his side more than $1.5 million. That apparently isn't enough, even though Williams doesn't bring all that much to the table economically. If Williams wants a significant fight and wants to fight for the title, he's going to have to be financially realistic. If the fight doesn't happen, it's the fault of Williams & Co., not Pavlik."

"HBO has offered about $3.75 million for[the fight]. The sides are arguing over the revenue split, but hopefully sanity will prevail and they can make what would be one of the biggest fights of the year. "

[Guest]

I agree that if Williams wants to be a star he needs to make this fight happen.
The big money will come after (or if) he beats Pavlik.
Not too many options for Paul right now so they need to get moving and sign the contract.

[Rusty]

If Paul is getting offered 1.5 mil for this fight and turns it down, he can just go ahead and stop all of this "most avoided fighter" nonsense immediately.

If he takes the money and fights Pavlik, he can get ready for his new nickname, Paul "The Punished" Williams.

[Guest]

Sounds like we'll have to place a friendly wager Rusty.
I'm sure i'll be taking Swerbs money on that fight too.

[Rusty]

You got it, FightDr.

Easy money!

[Guest]

Let's just hope it happens, then we'll let the fun begin.

[swerb]

Sounds like we'll have to place a friendly wager Rusty.
I'm sure i'll be taking Swerbs money on that fight too.

Law of averages says you have to eventually win a bet against me on a fight.

Thought taking Roy Jones straight up against Calzaghe would send you into betting retirement against me.

[Guest]

We have ourselves a roadblock. What else? Money

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=21267

You had Kelly vs BHop, how did that turn out?

[Rusty]

I am starting to see why Paul Williams is the "most avoided fighter" in the world.

He refuses to sign a reasonable, multimillion dollar contract for a HUGE fight.

Thanks for the link, FightDr.

[Rusty]

Progress is being made in the negotiations. I have a feeling this fight is going to happen.

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=21288

[Guest]

My sources that are very close to this say it doesn't look good for it happening.

[Guest]

It doesn't look that good for this fight. I hope what i'm hearing changes.
Arum simply doesn't want to make it happen from everything I have heard from people close to the situation.

[Rusty]

According to Dan Rafael, the problem is that Williams' people are making outrageous demands.

"My sources tell me that Top Rank offered the Williams side a package of $1.55 million, but Goossen asked for $2.5 million plus 50 percent of the gate. Top Rank countered by raising the offer to $1.75 million plus a lesser piece of the gate."

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/ind ... rafael_dan

[Guest]

His sources are wrong.
Mine are in on the negotiations. I'll leave it at that.
Arum doesnt want the fight..................bottom line.
I left Pavlik a voice mail tonight to see if we can discuss it on our show soon.

[Rusty]

Thanks for the info, but it seems that you and Dan are probably just talking to people that are on opposite sides of the negotiations. I still believe that this fight will come off.

You may be right about Arum not wanting this fight to happen, but I have trouble finding any reasoning for that. His personal dislike for Goosen and his people or fear that Kelly will lose the fight? Why exactly does Arum not want this fight to happen?

It's just a very difficult negotiation about money, nothing more. It happens all the time.

Maybe Paul is just nervous about getting knocked out for the first time in his career.

[Guest]

Backup plan:

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=21383