Oscar De La Hoya Close to Finalizing Opponent: Manny Pacquiao

According to Dan Rafael at ESPN, the most possible scenario for The Golden Boy's final fight will be a clash with the #1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world and new lightweight weight champion, Manny Pacquiao.

Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank's Bob Arum will be holding a meeting in Los Angeles later this coming week to do their best to finalize the super-fight. "I am going to meet with him and if we can work out a deal that is acceptable to Bob, Manny, and to us, then we will get the fight done," Schaefer, Golden Boy's CEO, told ESPN.com. 

This is potentially the biggest fight in boxing in terms of popularity and draw. In one corner you have the always exciting and internationally loved, Many Pacquiao and in the other, the all time leading PPV sales attraction and the most popular fighter in America, The Golden Boy. These fighters arguably have the two deepest fan bases in the sport and will surely attract more than any other possible match-up in boxing (only one close in terms of fans is Hatton).

The talk suggests that the fight will take place at the 147 lbs welterweight limit. Pacquiao, the five divison champ who started his career in the 112 lbs flyweight division, has proved that he doesn't have a problem adding muscle, without losing his core abilities. However, De La Hoya will be cutting weight for the and end up weighing about 157 lbs when he step in the ring. The fairly sizable height and weight disadvantage for Pacquiao will be a major challenge to overcome. 

If De La Hoya was in his prime, we would say Manny might be getting a little too overzealous with the jumping of the weight classes, but since he isn't, there is a good chance he will come out on top.

Kelly Pavlik vs. Paul Williams: Almost Inked?

As we reported earlier this week, Paul Williams (34-1, 25 Ko's) is one of the many prospects that the middleweight champ of the world has considered for his next defense.

According to Steve Kim from Max Boxing, the Williams fight is much closer to happening than we originally thought.  Names get tossed around so much as speculation it is hard to take anything at face value, but this one looks close to being sealed. Apparently Bob Arum and Dan Goossen have been in talks and are trying their best to get it done. 

Williams is probably the best of the bunch named as possible opponents for the The Ghost.  He is lengthy (6'1"), much quicker than Kelly, and is a proven champion in the welterweight division.  With his frame, it won't be a problem moving to middleweight. There is a possibility that Williams may give Kelly some trouble, but Williams somewhat resembles a skinnier Jermain Taylor in terms of style and he wasn't able to get it done in two fights with The Ghost.

If it goes through we should be in for another exciting fight from Kelly Pavlik as early as September 27th.

See Paul Williams last fight

Paul Williams vs Carlos Quintana 2

Pavlik vs. Mora: No Go

Sergio Mora has weaseled his way out of another middleweight title shot. After turning down a bout with then undisputed middleweight champion Jermain Taylor, Mora added many more doubts to go along with his already shaky resume.  One would think that the reaction from fans and boxing media alone would have been enough to avoid another situation like the first. Wrong.

Bob Arum offered Mora $1.2 million to partake in a battle against the best middleweight in the world, Kelly Pavlik. Again he managed  his way out of a match he knowingly would lose, citing that the he could do it for no less than $1.5 million. Pavlik only made a mil more than that in his recent showing on HBO against Gary Lockett.  Where does Mora get off making demands against the top fighter in the U.S., in a fight that would give him a chance to be on the largest stage in boxing.

Arum said screw em' and is now considering a large stable of fighters for The Ghost's next opponent.  John Duddy was name that has been thrown around in the past, but that was debunked when just this past week he decided to drop to junior middleweight to take on Verno Phillips. Other names discussed have been Marco Antonio Rubio, Winky Wright, and by far the most intriguing, Paul Williams.

Williams is the 6'1" freak at welterweight who recently regained his WBO title after avenging his only loss with a first round KO over Carlos Quintana.  In his past fights he he had been struggling to make weight, so the jump to 160 shouldn't affect him in the ring.  Arum has already spoken with Williams promoter Dan Goosen, and they both agree this would be the best possible fight.  And we agree as well.  Make it happen boys.

Kelly Pavlik to fight Sergio Mora?

Since Joe Calzaghe has made it pretty clear that he wants none of The Ghost, the undisputed middleweight champion of the world will not be so quick to jump up to the super middleweight division. 

It now seems that Pavlik's camp has their eyes set on a title defense against the feather-handed season one Contender Champion and new WBC junior middleweight champion Sergio Mora. So yes Max Kellerman, The Ghost will stay at middleweight and "clean-up" the division as you so vigorously suggested after his last victory.

Mora is coming off a 12 round decision upset over the veteran Vernon Forrest this past month. Although he now holds the belt at junior middleweight, his natural fighting weight is at 160 lbs, and he has said that he would be willing to vacate his belt as soon as he gets a shot at the middleweight title.  

With his recent victory comes two mandatory fights, a rematch owed to Forrest that was stipulated in the original contract and a defense against the WBC mandatory challenger. However, if he vacates the belt (which he has already said he will do), neither of the matches would have to occur and he will have no problem negotiating for the fight with Pavlik to take place in September or October.

Bob Arum, Kelly Pavlik's trainer said that he "called both HBO and Showtime to advise them of the situation and that it looks like we'll be going to a Mora fight."  Which means we apparently won't have to wait long to see The Pride of Youngstown back in the ring after his devastating display against Gary Lockett.

The unifying title match for Pavlik that everyone and there mother has been talking about since this past weekend when Arthur Abraham KO'd top contender Edison Miranda, will have to wait until 2009. Abraham will have his hands full with a mandatory title defense in the coming months.  

Both Abraham and Pavlik have confirmed that they want the fight to happen, so there is no reason that it shouldn't, barring a loss from either fighter.