Kelly Pavlik withdraws from Pacquiao-Margarito undercard

In the latest of a series of setbacks, former middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik has withdrawn from his November 13 bout on the Manny Pacquiao-Antonio Margarito undercard.

Its the second time in a year that Pavlik (36-2, 32 KOs), who was set to meet Brian Vera in the top undercard, has taken is name off a fight card.

Pavlik withdrew from a fight with Paul Williams last December, citing a staph infection in his hand. He came back in the ring last April and lost his WBC and WBO 160-pound titles to Sergio Martinez.

Pavlik, who has dropped two of his last four bouts, includinga one-sided loss to Bernard Hopkins in 2008, cited a rib injury as his reason for pulling out of the fight.