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Published: Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Avoiding 'The Ghost'

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By JOHN KOVACH

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

YOUNGSTOWN — Trainer Jack Loew has a hunch about the scenario that will unfold if undefeated Kelly "The Ghost" Pavlik of Youngstown defeats Lenord Pierre of Catskill, N.Y., on Nov. 2 in their nationally-televised middleweight fight at the Chevrolet Centre.

Loew's hunch is based on his opinion that Jermain Taylor (who holds both the WBC and WBO championships) and Ronald "Winky" Wright (the No. 1 challenger to Taylor in the WBC) do not want to fight the No.2-ranked Pavlik for their own reasons — they don't want to risk losing and they won't make enough money.

Loew said he believes if Taylor can retain both titles in a bout Dec. 9 against No. 3-ranked Kassim Ouma of Uganda, he will vacate both of them to move up a weight class where he thinks he can make more money.

If that happens, Loew said he believes Wright will decline to fight Pavlik for the vacated WBC title.

The result, Loew believes, would be a WBC championship bout between Pavlik and No. 5-ranked Sam Soliman of Australia.

"Taylor and Wright don't want to fight Pavlik," Loew said.

Possible scenario

"If Taylor wins convincingly [over Ouma], he probably will say that there is no money to be made and no big-money names [left in the middleweight class] and I believe that he will vacate his title and move up [to super middleweight]" Loew said.

"Winky Wright gains nothing to fight Kelly," Loew said. "Wright wouldn't fight Taylor for $5 million. Every time someone offers him a fight, he keeps throwing out these ridiculous prices," Loew said.

"Winky won't fight Kelly because he won't make enough money, so he will bypass that fight and Kelly will fight Sam Soliman," Loew speculated.

If Pavlik wins the WBC title, Loew said he believes Wright would probably agree to a fight because there will be more money at stake.

"The best possible scenario for Kelly is to fight Soliman," Loew said. "Soliman is 5-8 or 5-9 and fights like a wild maniac and like a novice fighter. He throws a lot of punches but is not that great, talent-wise."

Next fight likely for title

Whatever scenario unfolds, Pavlik's next fight likely will be for the WBC championship.

"After Taylor's next fight, he will have to defend his title against Wright or else vacate the title," said Loew, noting that it will be mandatory for Taylor to defend his title within 90 days.

"And if Wright declines, then Taylor will have to fight Pavlik or else vacate his title," Loew said.

So they way it looks, the biggest bout in Pavlik's career will be Nov. 2 against the Haitian-born Pierre, because it will either make or break his career.

Loew knows the stakes are high when Pavlik fights Pierre.

"We have to win it. If he loses, it's the end of a long 51/2 years of work. It would be disastrous," Loew said. But, "If he wins the fight, he probably will be fighting for a world title.

"When Kelly becomes a champion, he will become more marketable," Loew said. "Anyone who fights Kelly will make a nice payday. There are not very many white champions out there, and when one comes around, then his value goes up."

Pavlik will have hands full

Even though the 6-foot-2 Pavlik (28-0, 25 KOs) has a big height and reach advantage over the 5-8 Pierre (18-2-1, 13 KOs), the latter is very experienced and knows all the tricks about how to get around a taller opponent with a longer arms. And it only takes one punch to do it.

So Loew is tailoring training conditions and sparring partners to simulate Pierre's style and size.

"We will bring in Shawn Porter of Akron, a seven-time national amateur champion, who will be turning pro shortly, and Ronnie Johnson, a pro from Las Vegas. Shawn is 5-8 or 5-9," said Loew.

Pavlik, who also is ranked No. 4 in WBA, No. 6 in WBO and No. 10 in IBF, will headline the six-bout card on Nov. 2 at the Chevrolet Centre. His bout will start about 10 p.m.

Two other Youngstown-area fighters are on the card — Darnell Boone of Youngstown and Billy Lyell of Niles, the latter replacing Warren policeman Frank Tempesta, who was knocked out recently and is required to sit out for 60 days as mandated by the Ohio Boxing Commission.

"Ringside seats are pretty much sold out," Loew said. "There are 40 ringside tickets left. We sold over 500 ringside seats."

Ringside seats are available by calling Loew at (330) 501-5713. Corporate tables are available by calling Dean Chance at (330) 264-5423.

"All other tickets are available at the Chevrolet Centre. I have heard that over 2,000 seats have been sold and we are pushing 3,000," Loew said.

kovach@vindy.com

Wednesday, October 11, 2006