Kelly Pavlik is ready to get back on the ride.  He learned the first time through that the ride goes really fast but it is enjoyable and there is nothing like being on top.  The former champion and #1 ranked WBC 168 pound fighter is set to get back into the ring on May 7 on the Shane Mosley vs Manny Pacquiao undercard in Las Vegas.   His opponent for the fight is Alfonso Lopez who is 21-0 and has won eleven fights in the past two years.

For Pavlik, it is a nice break to step back into the limelight on such a hyped card.  The fight card will be available as part of a Showtime Pay-Per-View and is being promoted by Top Rank and the great Bob Arum.

I had a chance to talk with Pavlik recently about some issues that fans want the answers to.

Paneech: Any chance that you and Paul Williams will ever fight?

Pavlik:  I have always wanted Paul Williams. If you go back and check the records, before I fought Bernard Hopkins, I was supposed to fight Paul Williams.  He backed out because he wasn’t happy with the money.  So I end up fighting a guy two weight classes higher than me, a living legend, Bernard Hopkins, as compared to fighting Williams who was coming up in weight.  I have always wanted that fight. The staph infection was proven and I couldn’t have done much more than had the kid come over to my house and hook me up to the IV.  Now, I am not sure if it would be worth it to fight him because everyone will say that Sergio Martinez ruined him.  It’s kind of a no-win situation, but if that is what the fans and the public want to see, a fight can happen at a catch weight.

Paneech: Will you train the same way as you have in the past using the ironman approach or are you going to change things up?

Pavlik: I am still going to use the ironman training, but we are really also going to change things up this time around.  We are still going to do the strength and agility training using ironman technique.  We are also going to try to get a lot more core work.  I want to do more with bends and flexibility, things that are lower impact on the body and easier on the knees like swimming.  My energy level is good and body is healed and I had a nice little break, but it is time to start working on other things.

Paneech: During your press conference you said you were refocused and hungry.  How hungry are you and can you regain your status as the top dog in this sport at a different weight class?

Pavlik: I thought pretty far ahead and I like the Super Middleweight weight class, it is just loaded with great fighters.  It’s a hell of a division and some people are saying that I am stupid for going there, but I don’t know what weight class they expect me to go to.  There are a lot of competitive fights there for me.  I can’t wait to get back into it, I can’t wait to spar and see where I am at.  The WBC has me ranked number one at that weight class and people are complaining that I have never won a legitimate fight at that weight class, so it is unwarranted.  I did fight at that weight class though.  My second fight with Jermaine Taylor was fought at that weight.

Paneech: So how can you measure the competition and know it’s a good move?

Pavlik: Well, Taylor was beating Arthur Abraham and was destroying Carl Froch.  So, if Taylor was competitive at that weight class what does that say about me?  The only way to address that problem and silence the critics is to go in there and just win.  That’s something I am really looking forward to, getting past Alfonso Lopez on May 7, shaking the rust off, and silencing the critics, again.

Mentally,  Pavlik is ready to roll.  Physically, the weight will not be as big of a problem as it was when he was fighting at 160.  Look for The Ghost to splash back into the sport of boxing with renewed vigor, greater focus, and very realistic expectations.  Personally, I think Carl Froch was out of line when he said he could easily defeat Pavlik.  Time will prove me right.