By Andy samuelson
Las Vegas
This one wasn’t much of a test either, but Kelly Pavlik again passed with flying colors.
The former middleweight champ from Youngstown continued his comeback with an easy victory over 25-year-old Virginia native Scott Sigmon Friday night at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino — located just two miles away from the MGM Grand, site of tonight’s welterweight showdown between Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley.
“It was only a matter of time before I [stopped him],” said Pavlik of his TKO victory after the seventh round, when a ringside doctor ruled a cut on Sigmon’s head was too deep to continue.
“I’m happy with it … but I’m always going to come down hard on my performance.
Unlike last April’s fight in Sin City where Pavlik struggled a bit in scoring a 10-round majority decision over Alfonso Lopez on the undercard of the Pacquiao-Shane Mosley card, there was no second-guessing on Friday.
Pavlik systematically picked his younger opponent apart from the opening bell.
Pavlik control the pace in the opening rounds with his left jab, before pounding Sigmon’s body with some powerful rights.
Pavlik started stalking Sigmon, the heavy underdog who had never fought a championship-level opponent before, at the beginning of the third. Sigmon slowed things and controlled Pavlik’s longer reach by holding onto him before the ref broke them up.
Sigmon tried to get offensive in the fifth, but his inside shots did little damage. Pavlie again went to work with big right hands to the body and head, creating several cuts including the one that ended the fight.
So after back-to-back easy victories, what’s the next step for “The Ghost?”
Garcia says his newly acquired fighter is ready for whatever he is presented.
“He knows that he has to comeback and start all over again. He’s been to the top before, but now he’s back to smaller shows,” Garcia said.
“But he’s just a fight or two away from being up there again. He’s got the best manager in the business in Cameron Dunkin. Those are his decisions. Top Rank and Cameron will work that out. It’s not my job. If everything goes right, we’re ready for whatever is next.”
While the IBF reportedly ask Pavlik to meet the sanctioning body’s No. 2 contender, Adonis Stevenson (18-1, 15 KOs), in an eliminator bout on Aug. 11, Dunkin said he is eyeing bouts on a larger scale.
“A big fight. I’ve been called this week by a representative of [Carl] Froch, [Lucian] Bute and [Mikkel] Kessler. Which of the three do you want after this?” Dunkin said.
“I said wait, hold on let me see what we’re going to do with him. If he looks as great as he did the other day … I want to rebuild him. I want him to be a champion again. I want him to fight on HBO, I want him to fight on pay-per-view. I want to do what we didn’t do the first time.”
As Pavlik was being ushered away from the ring he said he wants his next opponent to be a step up in competition.
“Any of the top guys. I need an upper fight,” Pavlik said.
Comments
Welcome back champ,
Great job !
A hasbeen against a neverwas. Awful, absolutely awful. This kid looked like the towel boy at the local health club. Pavlik looked like his old dopey self with all the tats and the cue ball. If this dope ever faces someone with a little speed and power he'll get his brainless head bashed in. He could never fight on a profitable pay per view, maybe a pay the view-er, but no one in their right mind would pay a nickel to watch this over the hill goofball box. Really, top flight boxers will destroy him within three rounds.
@ lefty did you see the fight ? Kelly did pummel him,thats why the fight was called.
Its amazing how some of you are just pure haters.When he wins you slam him,if he would lose you slam him.You are the true losers,not Kelly.
He made a mistake and now is trying to turn his life around.
@MLC75 - It's funny isn't it? People with no positivity in their lives and nothing positive to say will always find internet message boards a great place to spread negativity. Kelly has his problems, but overall my impression is that he tried to represent his hometown as best as he could. Boxing is a hard way to make a living. It pays well at the upper levels, but the money is earned, and the career doesn't last very long for most fighters. The alcohol problems this kid has had are very common in the sport. I hope the kid makes it back, but if not, he had a good run.
In the fight game you have to take steps.Kelly was at the top once and can be there again if he stays serious.He's not that old yet.The guy he fought was not a true contender,true,but this guy was a step up.you don't judge a fighter by how many guys he knocks out,you judge him by the wins he has.He could never knock another guy out but if he keeps winning he could be champ again. As far as his personal life is concerned,it's his business. If he wants to be champ again he will get his life in control.I feel that right now he is trying to do that,and if you haven't been there you don't know how hard it is. Support from family,friends(the right friends),and fans will help him along the way.His biggest fight is in his mind and heart,and I hope that he wins that one,because it's the championship of a good life.Boxing matches are just secondary.
Why all the negetive and hateful comments directed at this guy ?
Sure he's screwed up and made some bad choices,decisions and actions in his life and career but who hasn't ?
Everyone has their demons and sometimes those demons knock us flat on our asses.
There's no shame in that.
Often times those hard lessons are the ones we learn the most from and can make us stronger,better and smarter people.
Everybody deserves a shot at a comeback,a second chance,a third chance or however many attempts we have the fortitude to try to defeat our demons.
Those of you who seem to detest this guy should try wishing him well instead of trashing him.
You just might be amazed at the positive effect it could have on your own life
You guys are looking at this way too subjectively. Objectively, as a boxer he is slow and has no power left. He fought a nobody, but he beat him, that's true. But top notch boxers will destroy him. That's the bottom line. His personal life is his personal life. As a boxer, a champion boxer, that window has closed. His demons got him. His run was very vevry short as a top flight fighter, but those years are gone. He is a "B" flight boxer now. Would be a good club fighter. That's just how it is. He is extremely slow now, both hands and feet, with little to no power. How do you think that will work out against the big boys? Take the emotion out of this and look at his skills now. His run is over.