Loew unsure of Pavlik return

By Joe Scalzo

scalzo@vindy.com

Boardman

A yearlong layoff and a jump in weight classes hasn’t done much to diminish Kelly Pavlik’s status in the boxing world.

The former middleweight champion is the WBC’s No. 1 rated challenger at super middleweight, the weight class where Pavlik is expected to fight when he makes his return to the ring.

As for when that will happen, Pavlik’s trainer, Jack Loew, isn’t sure.

“It’s just a matter of when he wants to,” Loew said. “When Kelly lets me know when he wants to go, we’ll go from there.”

Pavlik returned to the ring last week for the first time since his return to Youngstown a few weeks ago. He spent two months in the Betty Ford Clinic for alcohol rehabilitation.

Pavlik went skiing with his wife on Tuesday but Loew said he will be in the gym again today and Friday as the two work on shaking off the rust and getting back in shape.

“He took care of what he had to take care of and he wants to move on with his life and his career,” Loew said. “He’s strong as heck. He looks good and he feels good.

“It’s just a matter of him talking to Top Rank [Boxing, his promoters] and telling them when he wants to go.”

Pavlik (36-2, 32 KOs) last fought in April, losing his middleweight titles by unanimous decision to Sergio Martinez. After taking the summer off, he was scheduled to fight Bryan Vera in November, but was forced to cancel due to a rib injury.

Although several opponents have been mentioned as possibilities in Internet stories, Loew said he has not been approached with any names.

“I don’t think it’s going to be a minor fight,” he said. “Kelly wants to just get right back into the thick of things.

“One or two wins and he’s right back into the title picture.”

Although Pavlik is likely to fight at 168 pounds, Loew said the ultimate decision will come down to where his fighter is most comfortable.

“We’re not going to fight him anywhere where’s uncomfortable,” said Loew, who felt they spent too much time dropping weight before his last fight and not enough time training. “We’re not going to do to him what we did against Sergio Martinez. Wherever his weight falls, if it’s 175 [pounds], that’s what we’re gonna do.”

Although Pavlik has had a tumultuous previous two years, Loew said the two never discussed the possibility of retirement.

“I don’t think it was ever a question of him not wanting to fight, I really don’t,” he said. “He’s the one who came back to the gym. I didn’t call him and ask him to come back.

“He called me and said, ‘Hey, let’s train a couple days this week’ and we did.”