Pavlik’s next payday

YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown boxer Kelly Pavlik, the middleweight champion, will earn between $2.5 million and $3 million for his Feb. 16 fight, and that number could rise if the HBO Pay-Per-View numbers are good.

If he beats Jermain Taylor, his next bout would likely bring him at least $4 million. By comparison, he made just more than $1 million for September’s bout — which was double his previous-best purse.

“He’s the first middleweight champion for Top Rank since [Marvin] Hagler,” Top Rank Boxing spokesman Lee Samuels said. “His is the most important title we have in the company.”

Many of Pavlik’s handlers wanted to keep him on regular HBO in February, rather than HBO Pay-Per-View, so more fans could be exposed to him.

Read the complete story in Wednesday’s edition or on Vindy.com.