Boxer Kelly Pavlik works out
Staff report
YOUNGSTOWN
The boxing future of former middleweight world champion Kelly Pavlik is as cloudy as ever after his decision to withdraw from Saturday’s scheduled 12-round fight against Darryl Cunningham at the Covelli Centre.
Pavlik told Top Rank, his promotion company, on Monday that he was not going to fight Cunningham after learning that his payday for a possible title fight against Lucian Bute in November was substanially smaller than he expected.
That leaves Pavlik’s future in limbo. He has angered Top Rank, which was evident in a statement emailed to media outlets Tuesday.
Details of Pavlik’s contract with Top Rank aren’t known, but it’s possible the company could opt out of it in response to Pavlik’s decision.
“[Top Rank] is not happy,” said Jack Loew, Pavlik’s trainer, on Tuesday. “Kelly had a tough decision; he made it, and now he’s going to have to deal with the consequences.”
Even if Pavlik stays with Top Rank it’s going to mean a longer climb back to being in the world title-fight conversation.
“We had discussed the terms of a Bute fight, but that had no bearing on this,” Top Rank president Todd duBoef told ESPN.com’s Dan Rafael on Tuesday. “Is it a matter of, is Kelly going to fight regularly? Does he want to get back on track and knock that rust off? Apparently not.”
Comments
Two words, Washed up
Two more words FU*KED UP!!!!
IT's time to hang it up,it's clear Kelly, no longer has the desire and heart to fight.He is on his way,to hitting rock bottom.I really thought this was his chance to turn things around,but Kelly could care less.His boxing days are over.
One can sure go to winner to loser in this community pretty fast. Hope he gets his life in order - whether he fights professionally again or not.
Ray Mancini was smart and got the heck outta here! This area corrupts even the noblest of people and sends them on the downward path of booze and drugs.
It's his life and his career. Arent you glad no one critiques yours?
I would have no problem having my life or career critiqued, how about you?
Word on the street, Kelly was supposed to be drug tested TODAY in preparation for his bout this weekend. How about that! Anybody shocked? I'm not.
He's a schmuck, nuff said. Not wanting to fight for peanuts? when the rest of us in Ytown have low paying jobs and risk our lives everyday by driving up Market st.