World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization champ Kelly Pavlik will put his middleweight belts on the line when he fights Sergio Martinez of Argentina next month in Atlantic City.
American Pavlik, who was sidelined much of 2009 with an infected right hand, says he is looking forward to being healthy again when the two meet on April 17 at Boardwalk Hall.
"I have no doubts or second thoughts about taking this fight," Pavlik said on Saturday in Dallas where he is attending the Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey title fight.
"It is great to be back training and it is great to be defending my titles in Atlantic City where my world title reign began."
Pavlik (36-1, 32 KOs) is coming off a fifth round win over Miguel Espino three months ago. Pavlik, who turns 28 next month, suffered his only defeat in October 2008 when he stepped up in weight to face Bernard Hopkins and lost a unanimous 12-round decision.
Martinez is the WBC super welterweight champ and now fights out of Madrid, Spain. He lost a controversial 12-round decision to Paul Williams in his last fight for just the second defeat of his career. He has won 29 of his past 30 fights.
"This is the fight of my life so I plan to take full advantage of it," Martinez said. "I am a much better fighter than before and I will win and I will win by a knockout.
"I will take the belt back to Argentina."
Under siege from a flourishing martial arts scene, promoter Bob Arum said the middleweight division is helping keep boxing going.
"The middleweight is the premier division in boxing," Arum said. "They move like the lighter fighters and generally they are a lot more talented than the heavyweights."
Copyright 2010  AFP American Edition
