Jesse Brinkley 35-5 (22) boxed better than ever before when clearly outpointing favourite
Curtis Stevens 21-3 (15) this past Friday night. The fight was an eliminator for
the IBF super middleweight number 2 spot but it seems like Brinkley’s win may jump
him straight into a bout with Romanian/ Canadian IBF champion Lucian Bute 25-0 (20).
Brinkley is promoted by Lets Get It On Promotions, run by legendary referee Mills Lane’s two sons and it seems they are on the verge of making the fight with Bute.
Say what you want about the perceived lack of quality fighters that graced the tv show “The Contender” but there can be no doubt that the exposure has helped numerous fighters too big fights that may not have taken place had they not appeared on the show.
In a blatant bit of one upmanship it is also reported that WBC/WBO middleweight champion
Kelly Pavlik 36-1 (32) is looking to take on Sergio Martinez 44-2-2 (24). Martinez
recently gave Paul Williams hell in losing a majority 12 round decision.
Pavlik versus Williams was one fight that seemed to get cancelled so many times in 2009 and both camps have badmouthed each other. The boxing fans seem to have taken Williams’ side and what better way for Pavlik to make a statement than to beat Martinez convincingly.
Both fights are tentatively scheduled to air on the HBO network on April 17th. However it seems unlikely that they will be staged at the same venue. Expect coverage from Canada for the Bute fight and then to the American venue for Pavlik.
By JIMMY LAST (EDITOR)
