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* [http://www.hbo.com/boxing/fighters/pavlik_kelly/bio.html HBO Boxing Bio]
* [http://www.hbo.com/boxing/fighters/pavlik_kelly/bio.html HBO Boxing Bio]
* [http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=97415900 Kelly Pavlik's MySpace Page]
* [http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=97415900 Kelly Pavlik's MySpace Page]
* [http://www.metromonthly.net The "Metro Monthly"] - Video coverage of triumphant champion's homecoming celebration.


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Revision as of 17:43, 16 March 2008

Kelly Pavlik
File:Pavlik.JPG
Template:Puic
Born
Kelly Pavlik

(1982-04-05) April 5, 1982 (age 42)
Youngstown, Ohio
NationalityUnited States American
Other namesThe Ghost
Statistics
Weight(s)Middleweight
Height6 ft 2½ in (189 cm)
ReachTemplate:In to cm
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights33
Wins33
Wins by KO29
Losses0
Draws0
No contests0

Kelly Robert Pavlik (born April 5, 1982 in Youngstown, Ohio) is an American professional boxer and the reigning WBC & WBO unified middleweight champion.[1] His record currently stands at 33-0-0, with 29 of those victories coming via knockout.

Background and early life

Known as "The Ghost", Pavlik grew up in a Slovak-American family on Youngstown's south side, in the traditional ethnic neighborhood of Lansingville.[2]

He graduated from Lowellville High School and Mahoning County Joint Vocational School in 2000.[2]

Pavlik has been trained by Jack Loew of Youngstown's South Side Boxing Gym for his entire career.[3]

Pavlik required 14 stitches to close cuts on both of his hands and arms after he accidentally put them through a kitchen window he was repairing.[4]

Amateur highlights

  • 1999 U.S. National Under-19 amateur champion, 147 pounds
  • 1998 National Jr. Golden Gloves amateur champion, 147 pounds
  • 1998 National Jr. PAL amateur champion, 147 pounds

Professional career

Pavlik turned pro in 2000 and won his first 26 fights before stepping up in competition on October 7, 2005 to face Fulgencio Zúñiga for the vacant NABF middleweight title. Zúñiga scored a knockdown with a left hook in the first round, but Pavlik recovered quickly and dominated the rest of the fight. Zúñiga was cut over his right eye by a clash of heads, and his corner stopped the fight after the ninth round.

On July 7, 2006, Pavlik defeated former WBO junior middleweight champion Bronco McKart by sixth round TKO in his first defense of his NABF middleweight title. McKart scored a knockdown when both of Pavlik's gloves touched the canvas in the fourth round. Pavlik knocked McKart down twice in the sixth round before the referee stopped the fight.

Pavlik headlined in his hometown at the Chevrolet Centre on November 2, 2006 and put on a dominant performance against Lenord Pierre. Pavlik scored a knockdown with a right hand late in the first round, and rocked Pierre repeatedly in the second and third rounds. Pavlik knocked down Pierre again with a left hook in the fourth round and the referee stopped the fight.

On January 27, 2007, in Anaheim, California, Pavlik defeated Jose Luis Zertuche by eighth round knockout in his second and final defense of his NABF middleweight title. It was a fast-paced, exciting fight that concluded when Pavlik landed a right hand that froze Zertuche in his tracks and then landed an uppercut that dropped him face-first to the canvas.

Fight with Edison Miranda

Pavlik defeated Edison Miranda on May 19,2007, by TKO in the seventh round. The fight was a WBC eliminator bout. This fight established him as the #1 middleweight contender. Prior to the fight, Miranda seemed to ignore Pavlik, choosing rather to lob challenges at champion Jermain Taylor, who was fighting Cory Spinks on the same card. Meanwhile, Pavlik contended to sports journalists who would listen that he would "back Miranda up." When the opening bell rang, Pavlik immediately charged Miranda and kept the contender backing up and on the defensive.

During the sixth round, Pavlik dropped Miranda to the canvas twice. After the first knock down, Miranda spat out his mouthpiece, causing referee Steve Smoger to deduct a point. As the sixth ended, Miranda seemed unable to continue, but came out nonetheless. In the seventh, Pavlik trapped Miranda in a corner with a barrage of vicious shots, forcing Smoger to stop the fight.[5]

Bouts with Jermain Taylor

In Atlantic City, New Jersey, in front of a pro-Pavlik crowd (nearly 5,000 Youngstown natives made the trip), Pavlik defeated Jermain Taylor on September 29, 2007. In the pre-fight build-up, Taylor's trainer Emmanuel Steward went on record as calling Pavlik "overrated" and promising a knockout win for his boxer. It nearly happened, as Pavlik was knocked down in the 2nd round and tossed about the ring for much of that round.

However, using his reach advantage and ability to trap opponents in the corner, Pavlik slowly turned the tide on Taylor. By the sixth round, many at ringside such as HBO commentator Larry Merchant saw the fight even. HBO's unofficial scorer Harold Lederman even had Pavlik leading the fight at the halfway point. Despite this, he was trailing on all three scorecards. In the seventh round, Taylor appeared desperate as he was throwing power punches that mostly missed the mark. Pavlik took advantage with several power shots to the head, culminating with an overhand right which sent Taylor stumbling back into Pavlik's corner. With trainer Jack Loew encouraging him, Pavlik lit into Taylor until an uppercut almost sent Taylor crumpling onto the canvas. Referee Steve Smoger immediately waived off the fight, giving Pavlik the TKO win. With the victory, Pavlik became the WBC and WBO middleweight champion.[1]

After the fight with Taylor, Pavlik and his father, Mike Pavlik Sr., accidentally left their paychecks in their hotel room.[6]

He was subsequently named The Boxing Times Fighter of the Year in 2007.[7]

After the defeat, Taylor activated his clause for a non-title rematch, which was held on February 16 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.[3]. The fight was a more tactical duel, with Pavlik wearing Taylor down with continual jabs, while Taylor scored with more flashy, sporadic bursts. Pavlik won the fight by Unanimous Decision (117-111, 115-113, 116-112), handing Taylor his second defeat.

Linear Champion

Over a 10 year reign, Bernard Hopkins unified all 4 of the Major World Middleweight Champion Belts creating the Absolute Undisputed World Middleweight Championship. In 2005, Jermain Taylor defeated Hopkins and became the Undisputed World Middleweight Champion. Although Jermain Taylor was stripped of 2 belts, nobody defeated him until Kelly Pavlik knocked him out in September 2007. Kelly Pavlik holds 2 belts but he is the definitive, Linear, Universally Recognized World Middleweight Champion. The holders of each of the other 2 belts are regarded as high ranked contenders, one of those belt holders is ranked as low as #6 contender.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Scalzo, Joe (September 30, 2007). "Pavlik credits Valley support for victory". The Vindicator. p. 1. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ a b Kovach, John (September 26, 2007). "Family, friends and fans give boxer a "boost"". The Vindicator. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ a b Scalzo, Joe (October 24, 2007). "Ready for rumble, again; Taylor opts for rematch". The Vindicator. p. C-1. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ Rafael, Dan (2007-11-08). Pavlik hurts hands, arms in household accident. ESPN.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-08.
  5. ^ Young, Evan (2007-05-21). "Kelly Pavlik KO7 Edison Miranda". BoxingForecast.com. Retrieved 2007-05-21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ Iole, Kevin (2007-10-02). "New champ Pavlik leaves paycheck at hotel". Yahoo! Sports. Yahoo!. Retrieved 2007-10-02. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ "2007 Boxing Year in Review". The Boxing Times. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
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