By James Slater – When it was announced that former middleweight king Kelly Pavlik had been added to the November 13th card topped by Manny Pacquiao-Antonio Margarito, the fans cheered. When it was announced who the opponent would be – Haiti’s Daniel Edouard – the fans booed. No real disrespect was aimed at “The Haitian Sensation,” it was just that a more visible name was what the fans wanted to see “The Ghost” going up against in his first fight back since that tough loss to Sergio Martinez.
Well, as ESPN.com’s Dan Rafael reported a few days back, Edouard is now out for Nov.13th and Team-Pavlik are looking for a replacement. Today, via his Twitter page on ESPN.com, Rafael has reported how tough, durable and world class Giovanni Lorenzo is the fighter Pavlik’s gang have contacted about the date going free in November.. And Rafael reports how the Dominican Republic middleweight is seriously considering the offer.
A far bigger step up in class than Edouard, 29-year-old Lorenzo, 29-3(21) has mixed it with some big names in his time, and the New York-based warrior is almost as tall as Pavlik, at a shade over 6’0.” Also, having fought as recently as September 4 – a close points loss to the returning and still WBA 160-pound boss Felix Sturm, a fight Lorenzo still believes was way closer than how the three officials had it in the defending champ’s favour – Lorenzo will be sharp and ready.
In his two other losses, Lorenzo also came home with points defeats. Sebastian Sylvester decisioned him in a vacant IBF title bout back in September of last year (a split decision) and before that, in June of 2008, Raul Marquez took Lorenzo’s “O” with a hard-fought 12-round UD win. In his time, Lorenzo has also managed to pick up a win over a pretty good fighter in Dionisio Miranda (W KO2). But can he beat Pavlik?
Lorenzo will at the least test the Youngstown man. Not a huge puncher – at least not in comparison to Pavlik – Lorenzo can nonetheless hit some. And his chin, as he has shown, is first rate. Pavlik, it must be remembered, has been out since April, and come November, after seven months out, he could be a little rusty. And what will the 28-year-old’s self confidence be like? Badly in need of a good, impressive stoppage win, Pavlik, who has won just two bouts since that shock upset at the hands of Bernard Hopkins, might have to go some to get one over Lorenzo.
The Pavlik-Edouard bout was to have been at a catch-weight of 164, and it’s not known yet whether or not this will be the same agreement for the Lorenzo fight (if it’s agreed at all). An interesting match-up on paper, far more so than the original match-up involving the fighter who is still one of the most exciting operators out there on his day, Pavlik-Lorenzo would likely be a “value for money” fight for the fans.
Off the top of my head, I’d pick Pavlik to win, almost certainly on points.