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Tonight Kelly Pavlik is facing Bernard Hopkins in a match at 170 pounds. We will not be recapping the match. However, we will be providing some background for the match. Here is the original recap of Kelly Pavlik vs. Edison Miranda:

HBO World Championship Boxing Recap

May 19, 2007

FedEx Forum-Memphis, Tennessee

WBC Number One Contender Middleweight (160 pounds) 12 Round Match:

Edison Miranda (28-1, 24 KO's, 160 pounds) vs. Kelly Pavlik (30-0, 27 KO's, 160 pounds)

Miranda is a Colombian native that was abandoned at birth by his 14-year-old mother who was unequipped for the responsibility of raising a child.  At nine-years-old Miranda left the home he was living in to hitch hike by himself in search of his mother.  After searching town after town, he found her, only to find out his father was dead, she had remarried, and he was still unwanted.  Heartbroken, he left mother's home to live on the streets, still just 9-years-old.  He would sleep on cardboard he got out of dumpsters and eat anything he could find.  A drug addict taught him to read, write, and basic math while he lived on the streets.

Miranda was inspired to start boxing by a dream, while he was sleeping on the streets.  Five hundred miles from his mother's home he found a place that would train him to become a boxer.  He began that training, so in need of shelter he slept in the ring in the gym with mosquitoes biting him all night, rather than live on the streets.  He said it was torture for him.  Miranda now has a home in Puerto Rico and a father figure in his trainer.

Miranda unofficially weighed-in prior to the match at 173 pounds.  Miranda is coming off a 10 round unanimous decision victory over a very good opponent in Allan Green in Puerto Rico.  The tough competition Miranda has faced has lead the odds makers to make him a 7 to 5 favorite in the match.  Miranda is the current WBC number 2 contender.

Pavlik is a year younger at 25-years-old and 3 inches taller at 6' 2" tall, while Miranda stands 5' 11" tall.  The Youngstown, Ohio native, despite being exceptionally tall for this weight class has the shorter reach as measured from the armpit to the end of the fist Pavlik's reach is 24.5", 1.5" shorter than the 26" of Miranda.  Pavlik unofficially weighed-in prior to the match at 171 pounds.  Pavlik is the current WBC number one contender.

This is actually viewed as the highlight match on the card and expected to be the most exciting.  The winner of this match is supposed to be in line for a shot at the belt held by the winner of the main event (presumably Jermain Taylor), but undefeated Ring Magazine Champion at 168 pounds Joe Calzaghe has said he would like a match with Taylor next.  That match would be worth far more money for Taylor with Calzaghe being a bigger name boxer.

The rules of this match are the unified rules of boxing, which have been detailed numerous times.  Harold Lederman is keeping the unofficial scorecard for HBO.

Before the match begins there is a ten bell salute to Diego "Chico" Corrales, may he rest in peace.

Round 1 is great.  The boxers come out only throwing power punches.  Pavlik gets the best of it, landing several clean hard right hands.  He takes round 1, 10-9.  After the round, Pavlik went to the wrong corner, but laughed it off.  It was more likely because he forgot, and not that his mind is foggy.  Lederman also scores round 1 for Pavlik, 10-9.  Jim Lampley believes that may have been the round of the year on HBO.   With 2:15 to go in round 2 Miranda sits down on the middle rope, which could have been counted as a knockdown, since it was the only thing holding Miranda up.  The referee did not make that indication, however so Miranda is saved an automatic 10-8 round.  This referee is known for late stoppages, which could be very bad here with the way these men are throwing punches.  With about a minute to go in round 2, blood is starting to come from the nose of Pavlik.  Miranda keeps dropping his left hand, which is allowing for Pavlik to land huge right hands consistently.  Miranda had trouble making weight and it appears to be effecting him, because he is tiring early.  Both boxers throw punches well beyond the bell to end round 2.  This is a match worth going to find a replay of, for the first two rounds alone.  Round 2 to Pavlik, 10-9.  Through two rounds Pavlik has landed 63 power punches, and despite likely losing both rounds, Miranda has landed 48 power shots.  Lederman scores round 2 for Pavlik, 10-9.  With 49 seconds to go in round 3, Miranda receives a major warning from the referee for hitting below the belt.  Miranda has lost points before for hitting low.  Pavlik takes round 3, 10-9.  Through 3 rounds I have it scored in favor of Pavlik, 30-27. Lederman has it exactly the same.  CompuBox has Pavlik averaging 30 power punches per round through the first 3 rounds.  after 3 rounds Miranda's right eye appears to be swelling shut and Pavlik's right eye appears to be swelling, as well.

After round 4 Pavlik is tired, but Miranda is far more tired.  Round 4 to Pavlik, 10-9.  Lederman scores round 4 for Pavlik, 10-9.  In round 4, Pavlik out landed Miranda on power shots 39-11.  With 2:34 to go in round 5, Miranda is issued another warning for hitting low, the next low blow will cost him a point he cannot afford to give away.  Miranda's eyes are swelling shut and that may cause the match to be stopped eventually.  Pavlik wins round 5, 10-9.  Round 5 was a better round for Miranda, and he may win in it on some cards.  Lederman gave round 5 to Miranda, 10-9.  A big right hand from Pavlik puts Miranda down to the canvas with 1:02 to go in round 6, and it is a serious question if he will answer the referee's count.  Miranda stood up and then spit his mouthpiece out intentionally while looking completely unsteady, but the referee is going to let this match continue, after stopping to wash off and replace the mouthpiece.  That is completely wrong, Miranda is in no shape to continue and has bought himself extra time by spitting out the mouthpiece.  A left hook with 18 seconds to go in round 6 sends Miranda to the mat again.  Miranda answers the referee's count and the referee lets the match continue.  It is ridiculous that this match is continuing.  The referee took a point from Miranda for spitting out the mouthpiece.  Round 6 goes to Pavlik, 10-6.  In the corner, Miranda's people ask him if he wants the match stopped.  The boxer of course says no.  Through 6 rounds I have Pavlik winning this match, 60-51.  Lederman also gave round 6 to Pavlik, 10-6, and now has him winning the match 59-52.  There is still another potential 18 minutes of getting hit in the head for Miranda, who has been out landed on power punches in every round.  There is no reason this should continue.  Miranda is exhausted and virtually unconscious at this point.

Finally a little over a minute into round 7, Miranda drops down and the referee stops the match that should have ended three minutes ago.

Here is the official decision:  With 1:54 to go in Round 7 the winner by Technical Knockout and WBC Number One Contender, Kelly Pavlik.  Pavlik is now 31-0, with 28 of those wins coming by way of knockout.  The final CompuBox numbers are that Miranda landed 111 of 504 total punches thrown good for a 22% connect percentage.  Pavlik landed 242 of 539 total punches thrown for a 45% connect percentage.  On power shots this is where the numbers best illustrate how this match went.  Miranda landed 90 of 345 power shots good for a 26% connect percentage.  The winner, Pavlik, landed 193 of 418 power punches good for a 46% connect percentage.  Not only did Pavlik land 103 more power punches, but he landed the consistently harder power punches.

Pavlik in the post match interview said his plan was to make Miranda box going backwards.  In the match he did that and Miranda was off balance all night.