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Published: Monday, September 3, 2007

Starving Pavlik hungry for win

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To view a photo gallery of Pavlik training, click here.

HBO was in town several days for a one-hour special it will air before the Sept. 29 fight.

By JOE SCALZO

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

Last Thursday, Kelly Pavlik spent seven hours going through brutal training to prepare himself for his upcoming championship fight, then immediately left the gym for a three-hour autograph signing session at the Canfield Fair.

That's when his day got tough.

"I can't eat out there," said Pavlik, whose training diet doesn't include Elephant Ears, stromboli or deep fried Snickers. "I wanted to. It smelled really good."

After knocking out Edison Miranda in May, Pavlik spent much of June and July on the golf course (including the, ahem, 19th hole) in between a litany of public appearances. He also spent time with his family, including his 1-year-old daughter, as his managers solidified plans for a WBC middleweight title fight with Jermain Taylor, which will be held Sept. 29 in Atlantic City.

Training smooth

Last month, he started training again. And, according to Pavlik and his trainer Jack Loew, things are going very well.

"Extremely well," said Loew. "We're actually a little ahead of schedule."

Added Pavlik, "I didn't think I could be in better shape than I was for my last fight, but I am. It's unbelievable.

"It's pretty tiring. I'm training my [rear end] off."

Pavlik and Loew have made two changes since the spring. One, he began working out at a new gym with Paul "Dunner" Dunleavy, an well-known personal trainer in the Valley. (If you've ever run at an area race and seen a guy running with part of a wooden cross across his back, that's Dunner.)

Two, Loew has brought in different sparring partners than the last few fighters, looking for taller, more athletic "boxers" than straight-ahead sluggers. Taylor is known for being an excellent technician and a good defensive boxer.

Emphasis changed

"The last four guys we fought were all bangers who would stay in front of us," said Loew, who brought in New Jersey native Richard Pierson and Tyrone Watson of Reading, Pa., and has plans to bring in others. "Those two kids are very fast, athletic-type boxers.

"That's what we need."

Pavlik has done more sparring than strength work, working on his hand speed and his defense. Although some observers question whether Pavlik has good boxing skills — Pavlik is better known for being one of the most powerful punchers in the sport — Loew insists his fighter is more than just a slugger.

"He's actually a great boxer," said Loew. "The problem is, all the way up Kelly knocked so many people out so early, we didn't get a chance to show it."

It took a few sessions for Pavlik to get used to the different sparring style but he's grown more comfortable.

"Everything's coming back to me," said Pavlik. "It just took a little time."

HBO films segment

Pavlik will continue training in Youngstown right up until the week of the fight. HBO, which will televise this month's fight, has been in town several days for an one-hour special it will air before the fight.

Pavlik has cut back on personal appearances in recent weeks — he finally got back on the golf course last week but had to cut his round short after five holes — and has put all his energy into preparation.

"There's no breaks," he said. "Even when I'm done boxing and training, I'll come home and my dad and my family and friends will call or talk about the fight.

"The first thing I think about every day is the fight."

Pavlik has had one minor distraction. His lawyers recently filed a lawsuit against one of his former managers, Anthony Scandy, over a three-year contract that expired in May, a move that drew headlines.

Claim

Scandy insists the contract should be extended due to a hand injury Pavlik suffered midway through the deal. Pavlik's people insist there was no injury.

Pavlik has declined comment for the most part, but when asked about it late last week, he said, "It's not a surprise. I haven't had one dispute with a promoter or an agent in my career and now I have a big fight coming up and all of a sudden there's a controversy coming up."

Pavlik is set to make $1 million for this month's fight. If the contract were extended, he would owe Scandy as much as 13 percent of the purse.

"It's frustrating," said Pavlik, "The contract has been over for four months but it comes up now.

"But this happens to a lot of fighters. I'm the one sweating, bleeding, training and starving myself but everyone wants a part of the deal."

scalzo@vindy.com

Monday, September 3, 2007

To view a photo gallery of Pavlik training, click here.

HBO was in town several days for a one-hour special it will air before the Sept. 29 fight.

By JOE SCALZO

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

Last Thursday, Kelly Pavlik spent seven hours going through brutal training to prepare himself for his upcoming championship fight, then immediately left the gym for a three-hour autograph signing session at the Canfield Fair.

That's when his day got tough.

"I can't eat out there," said Pavlik, whose training diet doesn't include Elephant Ears, stromboli or deep fried Snickers. "I wanted to. It smelled really good."

After knocking out Edison Miranda in May, Pavlik spent much of June and July on the golf course (including the, ahem, 19th hole) in between a litany of public appearances. He also spent time with his family, including his 1-year-old daughter, as his managers solidified plans for a WBC middleweight title fight with Jermain Taylor, which will be held Sept. 29 in Atlantic City.

Training smooth

Last month, he started training again. And, according to Pavlik and his trainer Jack Loew, things are going very well.

"Extremely well," said Loew. "We're actually a little ahead of schedule."

Added Pavlik, "I didn't think I could be in better shape than I was for my last fight, but I am. It's unbelievable.

"It's pretty tiring. I'm training my [rear end] off."

Pavlik and Loew have made two changes since the spring. One, he began working out at a new gym with Paul "Dunner" Dunleavy, an well-known personal trainer in the Valley. (If you've ever run at an area race and seen a guy running with part of a wooden cross across his back, that's Dunner.)

Two, Loew has brought in different sparring partners than the last few fighters, looking for taller, more athletic "boxers" than straight-ahead sluggers. Taylor is known for being an excellent technician and a good defensive boxer.

Emphasis changed

"The last four guys we fought were all bangers who would stay in front of us," said Loew, who brought in New Jersey native Richard Pierson and Tyrone Watson of Reading, Pa., and has plans to bring in others. "Those two kids are very fast, athletic-type boxers.

"That's what we need."

Pavlik has done more sparring than strength work, working on his hand speed and his defense. Although some observers question whether Pavlik has good boxing skills — Pavlik is better known for being one of the most powerful punchers in the sport — Loew insists his fighter is more than just a slugger.

"He's actually a great boxer," said Loew. "The problem is, all the way up Kelly knocked so many people out so early, we didn't get a chance to show it."

It took a few sessions for Pavlik to get used to the different sparring style but he's grown more comfortable.

"Everything's coming back to me," said Pavlik. "It just took a little time."

HBO films segment

Pavlik will continue training in Youngstown right up until the week of the fight. HBO, which will televise this month's fight, has been in town several days for an one-hour special it will air before the fight.

Pavlik has cut back on personal appearances in recent weeks — he finally got back on the golf course last week but had to cut his round short after five holes — and has put all his energy into preparation.

"There's no breaks," he said. "Even when I'm done boxing and training, I'll come home and my dad and my family and friends will call or talk about the fight.

"The first thing I think about every day is the fight."

Pavlik has had one minor distraction. His lawyers recently filed a lawsuit against one of his former managers, Anthony Scandy, over a three-year contract that expired in May, a move that drew headlines.

Claim

Scandy insists the contract should be extended due to a hand injury Pavlik suffered midway through the deal. Pavlik's people insist there was no injury.

Pavlik has declined comment for the most part, but when asked about it late last week, he said, "It's not a surprise. I haven't had one dispute with a promoter or an agent in my career and now I have a big fight coming up and all of a sudden there's a controversy coming up."

Pavlik is set to make $1 million for this month's fight. If the contract were extended, he would owe Scandy as much as 13 percent of the purse.

"It's frustrating," said Pavlik, "The contract has been over for four months but it comes up now.

"But this happens to a lot of fighters. I'm the one sweating, bleeding, training and starving myself but everyone wants a part of the deal."

scalzo@vindy.com

Monday, September 3, 2007
Pavlik is better known for being one of the most powerful punchers in the sport — Loew insists his fighter is more...

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