By: Jim Amato

Everyone is wondering who will be Kelly Pavlik’s opponent this coming September. Rumor has it that newly crowned super welterweight champ Sergio Mora has the inside track. Mora first has to figure out how to get around his rematch clause with Vernon Forrest, the man he upset to win the title. Mexico’s hard punching Antonio Rubio is being considered. I’ve even heard welterweight champion Paul Williams is in the mix. More on that possible match later. Who ever meets Kelly, it will be all roads lead to an early 2009 match with Arthur Abraham. Pavlik-Abraham is one of the hottest tickets in town.

I wonder if WBA middleweight titleholder Felix Sturm is on Kelly’s short list. Sturm defended his title successfully by outscoring the talented Randy Griffin. Felix now sports an impressive 30-2-1 record yet he is largely overlooked in the U.S. despite the very close fight he had with Oscar De La Hoya in 2004. Sturm turned pro in 2001 and won his first twenty bouts including the capture of the WBO version of the middleweight title. He lost that crown to De la Hoya in a fight in which many felt Oscar lost. Sturm jabbed De La Hoya silly in that match.

In 2006 Sturm won the WBA recognition as champion by defeating Maselino Masoe. He was then upset by veteran Javier Castillejo. Felix regained the title by outpointing Castillejo in 2007. He drew with Griffin in 2007 but he has settled the score with a clear victory over Randy. Pavlik versus anyone would sell in the U.S. right now. The Lockett match proved that. Still a Pavlik-Sturm match in Germany would be huge. Sturm has the jab, speed and boxing ability to give Kelly some problems but I feel Pavlik would finally get to him late in the fight. Then it’s bring on Abraham.

As far as Paul Williams as an opponent for Pavlik, what are people thinking? I like Williams and he has a load of talent but no way he comes close to beating Kelly. I sure hope for Paul’s sake this match is not made!