Is this the real Kelly Pavlik that returns on a big stage in a few weeks on the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Shane Mosley fight in a few weeks? We have not seen him since losing the middleweight title by unanimous decision to Sergio Martinez last April at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
Now it becomes a real test for Pavlik, a comeback 10-round fight against the undefeated (21-0) Alfonso Lopez May 7 at the MGM grand in Las Vegas. But at one time, Pavlik would be headlining a pay-per-view card. He was always looked at as one of the top pound-for-pound fighters, and then Martinez came along and changed the plan.
The Pavlik fight is one of tree undercard bouts proceeding, the Pacquiao-Mosley WBO welterweight championship headliner that will be produced and distributed live on Showtime pay-per-view. Pavlik has a lot to prove. You either believe in what he can do or continue to doubt where his future stands after battling a staph infection to his hand and an addiction to alcohol.
The demons of drinking and partying, according to Pavlik are in the past after a stint in rehab. Once we saw Pavlik as this rising superstar in the sport. He was the kid from Youngstown Ohio that could do nothing wrong. Top Rank, his promoter, had a marketing strategy that gave Pavlik instant popularity after his two fights with Jermaine Taylor that resulted in a TKO and unanimous decision.
Then Bernard Hopkins came along, as did Marco Antonio Rubio and Miguel Angel Espino, before the downfall with Martinez. Long layoffs with an injury to his hand, and the good life got to him. It happens in the fight game at times and the demons of drinking caught up with Pavlik.
?It?s not worth it,? Pavlik says when reflecting on what went bad. ?I?m not missing anything. I?ve seen enough in my lifetime of only 29 years than most people will in three lifetimes. There?s not much I?m going to miss out on, so that?s how I look at it,? he said during a media conference call with boxing media.
After that second fight with Taylor, Pavlik came to New York City. The atmosphere of Times Square caught his attention. His publicists at Top Rank arranged a private sit down with some of the media. Pavlik then was talking about becoming one of the elite middleweights and not looking to have a long career. It was becoming a successful venture, the coming of perhaps the next Ray Mancini, another Youngstown hero, and as he said then,? The lifetime of a fighter can get to you.?
His promoter Bob Arum, manager Cameron Dunkin and trainer Jack Lowe were on the same page. Pavlik was handling the success and on a plan to becoming one of the all-time greats, though there were those who believed that his defense had a lot to be desired. The fight with Martinez was going to be a test and certainly became a possible legacy of a downfall, though that can be changed, and a start to resurgence for sure if he gets by Lopez.
?There was a certain amount of time there when we were going at a very fast pace with everything,? he says. ?And it became a little overwhelming. But, the thing is not, we just have to learn how to say no and get ourselves back on track and take care of what?s important.?
It is a second chance. Those around Pavlik from the beginning stayed with him through the ordeal, but the boxing public that fell in love with this new Youngstown hero have to believe in him again. He says, ?As far as not being the main event on the Manny Pacquiao card, I have no complaints with that. Even after being off for a year-and-a-half to be on the undercard is a pleasure of mine and an honor.?
?I want the people who have been there and supported me and been with me through thick and thin. That?s the only ones that I?ll be fighting for on May 7 in Vegas.? As well as finally fighting off the demons of a life that Pavlik has overcome.
So with a long layoff, and Lopez as a true test, what should we expect? Pavlik is working on his hand speed and he says the power is there. The problem is maintaining weight at 168 after ballooning to 195 during the layoff. The basics are back, working hard with Lowe in the gym, and studying Lopez on film
?He can go 12 hard rounds or 10 hard rounds,? comments Pavlik about his opponent. ?More so, from what I?ve seen, the kid comes to fight. Nothing phenomenal, but he?s a kid that you can?t take likely as you?ve got to be in shape to fight 10 rounds.?
Now Pavlik has to erase that image of one of the bad boys of boxing. Though he made the decision to clean up his act, and has been sober for a year, there will always be the skeptics that the real Kelly Pavlik has to stand up and prove to the boxing world that his claim to fame was not a fluke.
He said ?I?ve never done anything to offend anyone regarding his addiction to alcohol.? Yet, Pavlik did offend those who believed in his abilities, and there are those who said he would never get another chance. In his mind there is worry about disappointing them again, but this time it is not about a problem of going back to the bottle.
In essence, the real Kelly Pavlik has to stand up in the ring with Lopez and begin the comeback as one of the top super middleweights. The division has changed, and Pavlik definitely has that attraction. He has been there and can draw attention.
He said, ?Boxing has been a very big part of my life since I was 9 years old, alcohol isn?t.? That moment of destiny against Lopez will be the big part to see if the real Kelly Pavlik has returned to the lifestyle of boxing.
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