As a young boy growing up, Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik was into sports like most youngsters. Pavlik played baseball and football and simply enjoyed the physical aspect of the games.
As much as this Youngstown, Ohio native loved team sports, he wanted to venture into the martial arts, despite having two brothers that boxed as they were growing up.
In a rainy Cleveland, Ohio last Saturday night, fans gathered at Bernie Kosar's Cleveland Gladiators AFL game displayed their appreciation for this hard-working Ohio native. On hand to view the game and flip the coin for this important game for the Gladiators, Pavlik drew a deafening response when he was announced to the crowd.
It was quite an honor for a young man, who a few years prior was declared by some to be not quite good enough to wear a world championship belt. Like former World Champions Harry Arroyo and Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini, Pavlik hailed from Youngstown. Also like those two former champs, Kelly Pavlik's grit and determination have always been evident.
Prior to the festivities, Pavlik was on the field signing autograph after autograph. Upon realizing the "Middleweight Champion of the World" was in the house, fans and admirers lined up in the lower seating section of Quicken Loans Arena to get a glimpse of the pride of Youngstown, with hopes of having the opportunity to speak with one of the finer personalities in the boxing game today.
I had the opportunity to meet Pavlik several years ago, before he was on national radar to contend for a belt. Talking to him last weekend, I discovered that Kelly Pavlik remains the same humble, hard-working man. There is nothing phony about his character, nor his desire to bring a title bout to the Cleveland area.
"I would love to have my next fight in Cleveland, being from Youngstown, this is my home," Pavlik said.
On Saturday, however, Pavlik was more concerned with making sure to meet every fan that wanted to see him. He stayed on the field up to game-time signing autographs.
Pavlik appeared somewhat overwhelmed by the response of the fans. With Sharpie in hand, the left-hander signed everything and anything, from pictures to posters, and even a shoe that a young lady in attendance was wearing, which happened to be the same model Pavlik was wearing.
As Pavlik was signing, we went back and forth about the sweet science, his title fights and what could be next.
It was the unknowns about future opponents that appeared to grab the fighters attention.
"I'll fight whoever they put in front of me, that is for the promoters and our team to work out," Pavlik said.
When throwing names out, the very capable Arthur Abraham (also a recognized Middleweight Champion) caught his attention, as Pavlik acknowledged him to be a good, tough fighter, but one he believes he can defeat.
An interesting reaction came when another title holder, an undefeated champion at super middleweight and "The Ring" magazine light heavyweight champion was mentioned:
How about a fight with Joe Calzaghe?
"If he "really" wants to fight, I'll fight him," a grinning Pavlik noted.
Without saying as much, I got a strong impression from the give and take that a Pavlik/Calzaghe match is one Pavlik wants, but that the champion from Wales is not willing to entertain the chance.
In parting and wishing the champ good luck, the humble Pavlik would only say, "I have all these guys (the fans) behind me, I can't go wrong...........thanks man."
In a world of athletes gone wrong, Kelly Pavlik is one guy that really “gets it". Pavlik truly seems humbled by realizing what a public figure and icon he has become to the people of Northeast Ohio and to the fight game itself.
LA