As Sergio Martinez vs. Julio Cesar Chavez approaches, fans may ask what happens after the September 15 HBO pay-per-view takes place?
The 26-year-old WBC middleweight world titlist Chavez (46-0-1, 32 KO) will have faced his toughest opponent in 37-year-old Ring champ Martinez (49-2-2, 28 KO).
Win or lose, there's likely only one direction to go and that's up.
Considering the lack of big-money fights at middleweight that can be made in the United States and Chavez's well-documented struggles at the scale, a move up in weight division is a safe bet.
Top Rank, Chavez's promoter, has been slowly orchestrating the comeback of 30-year-old Kelly Pavlik (40-2, 34 KO) in the super middleweight division.
Pavlik last fought in July and was expected to return in October, but an opponent has yet to be named.
What if Pavlik's October return is scrapped in favor of keeping him healthy for Chavez's first fight at super middleweight?
Pavlik is still a popular name in America. Chavez would benefit financially and his resume would benefit from the addition of another big name.
The wars Pavlik has gone through over the course of his career mean that Top Rank may see Pavlik as a winnable and entertaining fight for Chavez's first visit to the super middleweight division.
And in the off chance that Chavez loses the fight, Pavlik's comeback will gain some credit and possibly lead him back in the ring for big fights with elite fighters again.
Chavez vs. Pavlik would be a fight between two hard hitters, each armed with stone chins and a propensity to never back down while coming forward.
For more sports and entertainment news and analysis, follow me on Twitter @justindavidtate.
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