Kelly Pavlik Squares Off with Sergio Martinez April 17

Ohio-based American boxer Kelly Pavlik stakes his WBC middleweight belt against Sergio Martinez of Argentina, now fighting out of Spain at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City Saturday, April 17.

Kelly who is fresh from his 5th round TKO over Miguel Espino says he is confident of winning over the Argentina boxer who has a professional boxing record of 44-2.

Pavlik was scheduled to fight Paul Williams last October 3 but his injured left hand had not healed completely forcing Williams to take another fight against Sergio Martinez.

maxboxing.com reports: World Middleweight Champion KELLY PAVLIK defends his crown against World Boxing Council (WBC) super welterweight champion Sergio Martinez, This Saturday! April 17, at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall.

HBO World Championship Boxing will televise the fight live, beginning at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT. Combined, Pavlik (36-1, 32 KOs), of Youngstown, OH, and Martinez (44-2-2, 24 KOs), of Argentina, now fighting out of Spain, boast an incredible record of 80-3-2 (56 KOs), a winning percentage of 94% and a victory by knockout ratio of 70%!

Kelly is The Ring, WBC, and WBO middleweight champion and current lineal champion, defeating Jermain Taylor to earn those titles. He has successfully defended his titles three times.

As of the end of 2009, Ring Magazine has ranked Pavlik as the 16th best boxer in the world.

(original article appeared @ Digital Journal )