Big-time boxing officially will return to Atlantic City on April 17.
Top Rank president Bob Arum announced Friday that WBC/WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik will defend his titles against junior-middleweight champ Sergio Martinez at Boardwalk Hall. The Press first reported Feb. 11 that plans for the fight were being finalized.
The 12-round bout will be the first one staged in the main hall since Oct. 18, 2008, when Pavlik (36-1, 32 KOs) suffered his only defeat, to Bernard Hopkins in a non-title fight. Two scheduled Pavlik fights at Boardwalk Hall last year were canceled after the Youngstown, Ohio, native developed a staph infection in his left hand.
"Kelly's ready to go again," Arum, Pavlik's promoter, said Friday in a phone interview from Las Vegas. "He wants to take on the best in the world, and Sergio Martinez certainly fits the bill."
Martinez (44-2-2, 24 KOs) earned the title shot by virtue of his thrilling fight against Paul Williams at Boardwalk Hall's Adrian Phillips Ballroom last Dec. 5. Martinez stepped in for Pavlik, who was supposed to fight Williams before his infection worsened. Williams beat Martinez by a majority decision in a slugfest that was one of the top fights of the year.
Arum said Friday that a Pavlik-Williams matchup was considered for April 17, but Williams' demand of a 50-50 split of the purse was too high.
Tickets for Pavlik-Martinez go on sale Monday at Boardwalk Hall, Bally's Atlantic City, Caesars Atlantic City and through Ticketmaster. Seats are priced from $50 to $350 for ringside.
Contact David Weinberg: 609-272-7186 DWeinberg@pressofac.com
Source: pressofatlanticcity.com
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