Published: Monday, October 1, 2007
'The Ghost'
surpasses
Ray, Harry
Ray Mancini and Harry Arroyo are happy to pass the torch to Kelly Pavlik.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — A few hours after Saturday night's fight, hundreds of delirious fans celebrated in the lobby of Bally's Atlantic City, awaiting Kelly Pavlik's triumphant return.
Taking in the scene, former Youngstown boxer Harry Arroyo smiled and said, "I wasn't that big. He's a superstar now.
"He makes even Ray [Mancini] look small."
Until Saturday night, Mancini, the former WBA and NABF lightweight champ, had been the most beloved boxer in Valley history. As he celebrated into the night, he didn't seem to mind passing the torch.
"This is an unbelievable night for Youngstown," Mancini said. "He's now the face of boxing.
"He couldn't have fought a better fight."
Second round tough
Like nearly everyone else in the Boardwalk Hall crowd, Mancini held his breath when Jermain Taylor put Pavlik on the canvas in the second round. When Pavlik got up, the fear disappeared.
"He took [Taylor's] heart away," Mancini said.
Mancini's cell phone had been ringing constantly since the end of the fight. He even got a call from Ursuline High graduate Ed O'Neill (aka Al Bundy).
"He told me to tell the kid he was so happy for him and the city of Youngstown, that they deserve it and he deserves it," said Mancini.
Arroyo recalled Pavlik when 12
For Arroyo, the IBF lightweight champion from 1984-85, Pavlik's victory had special significance. He can still remember the first day Pavlik stepped into the Southside Boxing Club.
"He was 12 years old and we sat down and had a long talk about boxing," Arroyo said.
Arroyo had predicted a Pavlik knockout in the eighth, but the second-round knockdown had him wondering — briefly — if it was just Taylor's night.
"To me, Kelly looked hurt," said Arroyo. "But he had enough strength and enough savvy to get on his feet and weather the storm.
"Then [trainer] Jack Loew brought him back to life."
When Pavlik knocked Taylor down (and out, as it turns out) in the seventh, Arroyo was expecting the referee, Steve Smoger, to give him a standing eight-count. Instead, Smoger stopped the fight.
Taylor hurt badly
When Arroyo watched the replay, he saw why.
"Taylor was really hurt," he said. "The referee did the right thing. He was in no shape to continue."
Pavlik's performance made Arroyo smile.
"He's a great, fantastic fighter," said Arroyo. "Kelly showed true heart, which is what every fighter needs to become a champion."
The victory wasn't always pretty, but to state representative Bob Hagan, it revealed a lot about Pavlik — and his city.
"This is so indicative of Youngstown," said Hagan. "We may go down but we'll get up and fight again."
scalzo@vindy.com
Monday, October 1, 2007
Ray Mancini and Harry Arroyo are happy to pass the torch to Kelly Pavlik.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — A few hours after Saturday night's fight, hundreds of delirious fans celebrated in the lobby of Bally's Atlantic City, awaiting Kelly Pavlik's triumphant return.
Taking in the scene, former Youngstown boxer Harry Arroyo smiled and said, "I wasn't that big. He's a superstar now.
"He makes even Ray [Mancini] look small."
Until Saturday night, Mancini, the former WBA and NABF lightweight champ, had been the most beloved boxer in Valley history. As he celebrated into the night, he didn't seem to mind passing the torch.
"This is an unbelievable night for Youngstown," Mancini said. "He's now the face of boxing.
"He couldn't have fought a better fight."
Second round tough
Like nearly everyone else in the Boardwalk Hall crowd, Mancini held his breath when Jermain Taylor put Pavlik on the canvas in the second round. When Pavlik got up, the fear disappeared.
"He took [Taylor's] heart away," Mancini said.
Mancini's cell phone had been ringing constantly since the end of the fight. He even got a call from Ursuline High graduate Ed O'Neill (aka Al Bundy).
"He told me to tell the kid he was so happy for him and the city of Youngstown, that they deserve it and he deserves it," said Mancini.
Arroyo recalled Pavlik when 12
For Arroyo, the IBF lightweight champion from 1984-85, Pavlik's victory had special significance. He can still remember the first day Pavlik stepped into the Southside Boxing Club.
"He was 12 years old and we sat down and had a long talk about boxing," Arroyo said.
Arroyo had predicted a Pavlik knockout in the eighth, but the second-round knockdown had him wondering — briefly — if it was just Taylor's night.
"To me, Kelly looked hurt," said Arroyo. "But he had enough strength and enough savvy to get on his feet and weather the storm.
"Then [trainer] Jack Loew brought him back to life."
When Pavlik knocked Taylor down (and out, as it turns out) in the seventh, Arroyo was expecting the referee, Steve Smoger, to give him a standing eight-count. Instead, Smoger stopped the fight.
Taylor hurt badly
When Arroyo watched the replay, he saw why.
"Taylor was really hurt," he said. "The referee did the right thing. He was in no shape to continue."
Pavlik's performance made Arroyo smile.
"He's a great, fantastic fighter," said Arroyo. "Kelly showed true heart, which is what every fighter needs to become a champion."
The victory wasn't always pretty, but to state representative Bob Hagan, it revealed a lot about Pavlik — and his city.
"This is so indicative of Youngstown," said Hagan. "We may go down but we'll get up and fight again."
scalzo@vindy.com
Monday, October 1, 2007
A few hours after Saturday night's fight, hundreds of delirious fans celebrated in the lobby of Bally's Atlantic City,...
