Pavlik-Williams canceled due to Pavlik hand injury
Unfortunately, one of the most anticipated fights in the boxing world, Kelly Pavlik vs. Paul Williams for the middleweight championship has been canceled. The fight was scheduled for December 5, and had previously been scheduled for a previous date before that.
The fight was then postponed due to Pavlik’s hand injury, a staph infection. Top Rank released a statement saying that,
“Kelly is unable to close his left hand which prohibits him from being prepared for a December 5 middleweight championship defense against Paul Williams. We at Top Rank are disappointed by this unexpected development in his recovery. Once Pavlik is cleared medically by Dr. Evans we will pursue all avenues with regards to a future bout. We appreciate the understanding of Paul Williams, Goossen Tutor Promotions, HBO and Caesars Atlantic City with regards to this unforeseen occurrence.”
For fight fans it’s a big blow, as Pavlik vs. Williams was highly anticipated. It was to be Pavlik’s first real middleweight title defense, and it was a chance for Williams to truly break into the middleweight scene. The former welterweight champion was actually the pre-fight favorite due to his own recent successes, and Pavlik’s recent inactivity coupled with the dominating loss to Hopkins.
Stay tuned for more updates regarding the Pavlik vs. Williams cancellation and any other future updates.
