Archive for the ‘Boxing’ Category

Kelly Pavlik will stay active, just like he said he would after his last fight.  Pavlik has signed to fight Darryl Cunningham from Detroit, Michigan on August 6 at the Covelli Centre.  The fight will serve as a tuneup as The Ghost prepares for a huge showdown in November against Lucian Bute.

“I’m excited about it”, exclaimed Pavlik.  “With the Bute fight coming in November, I definitely need one more tuneup fight.  I watched my performance in my last fight and I got stronger as the fight went on, but one more fight will help me out before I jump into it.  Cunningham has been in with some good fighters. He stopped Antwan Echols and although Echols is not what he once was, he is still a quality fighter.  He [Cunningham] is 23-2 and will be a solid challenge.”

Pavlik comes into the fight at 37-2 with 32 KO’s.  His last fight was on May 7 when he won a decision over Alfonso Lopez in Las Vegas.  This fight will serve a purpose as Cunningham, like Bute, is a southpaw.  Pavlik’s last loss, a unanimous decision setback to Sergio Martinez, came against a lefty also.  This might be a good bridge to cross before a big fight against Bute.

“I want to win convincingly and look sharp.  I want a stoppage by the fourth or fifth round, and I also want to look focused and be ready.  I’m still in shape, but I have not been lifting any weights this time.  I can get to 195 or 200 pounds when I lift.  This time, I am staying busy.  We are going back to the old stuff I used to do like the Ironman Warehouse to get stronger, but I’m not going to touch any weights.”

Pavlik and Bute details will be announced as they are released for their proposed November showdown which will probably take place in Montreal.

Things are falling into place for the first-ever “Ghost Productions” card to be held this Friday, July 1, at the Covelli Centre in Youngstown, Ohio.  Thursday afternoon, Jack Loew and Kelly Pavlik addressed the media and the fighters were officially weighed-in by the governing body of Ohio boxing.  Loew (pictured above ,with Rumble Time’s Steve Smith, Dannie Williams, and Kelly Pavlik), commented that the tickets are still on sale at the Covelli Centre box office and there are still seats remaining.  He also announced that there will be an intermission after the fourth fight, but because of the unique setting (the Covelli Centre Parking Lot), there will be a grand display of fireworks.  Can’t have those in Atlantic City.

When Pavlik took the podium, he said he was excited because this card has some really good fights on it and that the Youngstown fans will get to see some great boxing.  Ghost Productions’ initial endeavor will be good for the ring action.  Many local up-and-coming boxers are on the card and the fan support should be good for the home team.

The Darnell Boone vs Romaro Johnson fight has been cancelled, but the rest of the card is intact and there will be many great things to look forward to.  Youngstown’s Juan Salinas will finally get the spotlight in a professional ring when he has his first pro bout.  Loew has ranted about Salinas for the past three years.

Billy Lyell, from Niles, Ohio is pumped about being on the card.  “I feel great, I am in the best shape of my life.  The fights I was in against world champions has helped me.  I’m not going to see too many new looks that I already haven’t.  I’m real excited about fighting at home, it’s going to be a great event.”

Lyell has had some fierce competition in his path the past couple of fights, most notably a 10-round decision loss to undefeated Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. that he took on short notice.  He has sprung back since the January 29 setback earlier this year and defeated Brian Paul in Oklahoma on May 5.  Lyell is a very active fighter who gives his all each time out, not known as a knockout threat, he is very crowd-pleasing because he moves forwards and throws a lot of punches.

Speaking of local fan favorites, Jake Guiriceo (11-0-1) will be fighting Winston Mathis.  Giuriceo, from Campbell, Ohio has a strong and passionate local following and is another busy fighter who keeps active for three minutes at a time.

“I’m definitely ready, I have trained very hard.  I’m not looking for a knockout, I’m not a perfect athlete, I just want to win a good, safe fight”, claimed The Bull.  “I’m fighting for some kind of a title at Cene Park in Struthers on August 13, so I want to use this opportunity to sharpen things up.  It’s an absolute blessing to have a majority of my fights in Ohio.  I love the fans here, they are supportive and give me a boost when they are behind me.”

The Main Event will feature new WBC Continental Americas Champion, Dannie Williams.  Williams is 17-1 with 14 KO’s and is coming off of a title-winning effort in St. Louis, where he knocked out Manuel Leyva in the first round to secure his first major belt.  Williams is ranked in the Top-15, 135 pound fighters in the world and has no pushover in facing Oscar Cuero in the feature contest.  Cuero is 13-6 but his losses have been for the most part have come to some big time opponents (Monty Meza Clay, Jonathan Maicelo, and Emmanuel Lucero).  The three fighters mentioned have a combined record of 75-9-1, he is no pushover.

Williams has been training hard.  In fact it’s about all he is focused on these days.  “I get up and train, I eat, then I run.  After that I train some more.  Being in Youngstown has been great, I’m really looking forward to fighting on a big card like this one here in front of the hometown fans.”

The first bout is at 7 p.m. and it will be worth checking out.  The tickets are affordable, the setting is unique, and the action will speak for itself.  Hence, this card is “The Real Deal“.

Ghost Productions has announced the entire final card for the Friday Night Fights to take place at the Covelli Centre on July 1.  Jack Loew, Kelly Pavlik, and Mike Pavlik, Sr., make up the new promotional team.  They have the local map pretty well-covered with young professional talent for the debut card.

The tickets are very affordable, the matches were made to be competitive, and the card is set as follows:

Main Event

Dannie Williams (17-1, 14 ko’s) Yo, OH vs Oscar Cuelo (13-6, 1 ko) Brooklyn, NY

Undercard

Darnell Boone (18-17, 7 ko’s) Yo, OH vs Romaro Johnson (11-3, 6 ko’s) Cleveland

Billy Lyell (23-9, 5 ko’s) Niles, OH vs Michael Walker (19-8, 12 ko’s) Chicago, IL

Jake Giuriceo (11-0-1, 3 ko’s) Yo, OH vs Winston Mathis (7-3) Stockebridge, GA

Anthony Pietrantonio (6-7, 5 ko’s) Yo, OH vs William Prieto (5-5-1, 2 ko’s) Lorain

Juan Salinas (above) (0-0) Youngstown, OH vs David Burns (0-2) Cleveland, OH

Marco Hall (0-0) vs Emil Brooks (0-3) Buffalo, NY

Vincent O’Neil (1-1-1, 1 ko) Las Vegas vs Kenneth Addison (0-0)

Kevin Dotson (0-0) vs Daniel Crabtree (0-2)

With a great card in place and the area buzzing, this should be a great night of boxing that the Youngstown Area fans need to come out and enjoy!

In October of 2010, I interviewed Jack Loew at his Southside Boxing Club.  One of the first things Loew wanted to talk about was a young, scrappy prospect from St. Louis named Dannie Williams.  Loew said that the 135-pound fighter was going to be someone to reckon with.  On April 17, 2011, Williams made Loew look like a genius as he knocked out veteran Manuel Leyva in the first round to capture the WBC Continental American Lightweight Title in St. Louis.  First round knockouts are impressive, but when you do it throwing counterpunches, they become really impressive.

That win made “The Chopper”, as he is known in some circles, a Top-15 contender as he improved to 17-1 with 14 KO’s.  On July 1, Williams will headline the first-ever Ghost Productions card to be held at the Covelli Centre.  His opponent for that fight is Oscar Cairo , fighting out of New York.  I recently sat down with Williams to discuss the future fight and the big picture.

Paneech: Do you realize that you are starting to be  mentioned nationally and the opportunities will grow?

Williams: Yes sir, I do.  Two years ago I won my first belt and suddenly the sky is the limit.  I’m now in the Top-15 in the world and have a big fight coming up with Oscar Cairo.  We are both getting paid to train hard, show up, and beat the opponent up.  He is 13-6-1.  He is from Colombia but fights out of New York and has only been knocked out one time  and out of his 13 wins, ten have come from knockouts.  He can punch and it will be a good test for me.  I’m training to go ten rounds, but one punch can change the whole fight.  I am excited about fighting here in Youngstown for the hometown crowd.

Paneech: Who are the guys in your weight class of 135 that you want to face?

Williams: Right now, I am taking baby steps to get some exposure.  I would like to get a fight on ESPN or Showtime boxing.  As far as the fighters go, Hank Lundy out of Philadelphia is solid.  I would also like to fight Brandon Rios, who I beat at the amateur level.  The key in the whole process is to get some exposure and then face someone like a Robert Guerrerro, a Lundy, or a Rios on a bigger card.  Having 14 knockouts in 17 wins and not many people seeing them does not help my career much.  Once the world sees me, then I can think about bigger fights.  Obviously, fighting Manny Pacquiao would be huge.  Whether you win or lose, you can retire from boxing rich if you fight him.  Once I become champ at 135, I can think about moving up.

Paneech: I don’t think Jack Loew is going to whisk you into a fight with Manny Pacquiao in December unless he knows your ready.  Do you notice with each fight, a better opponent?

Williams: Definitely.  In February, I fought a guy [Cuello] who had never been knocked out.  My last fight against Leyva was a step up in class and for a belt.  They are getting tougher as they go, but that is what boxing is about, you have to beat the best to be the best.

Paneech:  Who influenced you when you were young to get into this sport?

Williams: Floyd Mayweather and Roy Jones.  I am a slick fighter, like a Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker or a Corey Spinks type boxer, where they are just slick and hard to hit solid.  I am 25 years-old and am driven by all of the guys who I came up with that have made it.

Paneech: What would be the “ultimate exposure” as far as a network covering you?

Williams: It has got to be HBO Pay-Per-View.  They are gonna pay, and I can co-promote with my real promoter by then.  However, right now, any network will do, it has to start somewhere.

Paneech: How is the transition from St. Louis to Youngstown going?

Williams: It’s been going great!  A lot of bad habits I had when I was in St. Louis stayed there when I came here.  In Youngstown, I am much more focused, training extremely hard, and staying out of trouble.  All I do here is eat, sleep, and box.  No time for foolishness once training camp starts.  I am focused on my opponent and trying to build a fan base here.

Paneech: Is Kelly Pavlik supportive?

Williams: Kelly has been great, like a big brother.  He is always giving me pointers, always taking time to make sure I am doing something the right way and pushes me to get better.  Even when I just fought in February, he was there hitting the ring and encouraging me.  He has been awesome.

Paneech: What is your relationship with Jack Loew like?  He has been tooting his horn about you for two years.

Williams: Jack is my trainer, but is also like a dad to me.  I call him “Pops”.  He has always spoken highly of me and doesn’t paint a fake picture.  He will come out and tell you what you are doing wrong.  I love him like a real dad for showing me the ropes and teaching me what I have learned.  He is always behind me 100 % and has my back regardless of who is against me.

Paneech: What is the message to the boxing world?

Williams: My message to the boxing world is to look out.  I am in Youngstown, one of boxing’s best kept secrets, and you will all know about me in a minute.

One Word Answers

Favorite Food When Not Training: Pizza with chicken and peppers on it.

Favorite Movie: Scarface.

Biggest Phobia: Me getting knocked out.

Worst Habit: I smile too much.

Favorite Drink: Hawaiian Punch.

Favorite TV Show: Sportscenter and boxing.

Favorite Store: Dillards.

Favorite Color: Red.

Favorite Musician: Yo Gotti.

On July 1, 2011, a brand new Youngstown business will be open for business.  “Ghost Productions” is the promotional combination of Jack Loew, Mike Pavlik Sr., and Kelly Pavlik.  The trio who run the promotion will hold their first event, simply called Friday Night Fights.  The event will be held outdoors, weather permitting, at the Covelli Centre.  If there is a threat of rain, the event will be moved inside the Centre.

“There is an awful lot of local talent and this is a way to let them showcase their skills”, commented Loew.  “Don’t get me wrong, it is a professional boxing card featuring Dannie Williams in the main event, but we would rather fill the card with as many local fighters as we can.”

Loew said that some of the other local fighters who will compete on July 1 will be Marco Hall, Anthony Pientono, Darnell Boone, Billy Lyell, and possibly Jake Giuriceo and Durrell Richardson.  One young man who Loew has been high on for a couple of years, Juan Salinas, will make his professional debut on the card.

Tickets for the inaugural Friday Night Fights go on sale Friday, June 3.  Tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster and are very reasonable at $10 and up (plus Ticketmaster fees and tax).  Tickets go onsale to the public at 10 a.m.

The absence of the Golden Gloves, formerly held at the Struthers Fieldhouse in the 80’s and 90’s, could make the ticket even more appealing for local boxing fans.

“It is a fairly priced ticket for a very good lineup of young local fighters,” said Loew.  “We would like to get television coverage as we continue to grow using some of the connections that Kelly [Pavlik] and I have made along the way.  Stations like ESPN, VS, and Showtime who air boxing regularly are targets.”

Kelly Pavlik is ready to get back on the ride.  He learned the first time through that the ride goes really fast but it is enjoyable and there is nothing like being on top.  The former champion and #1 ranked WBC 168 pound fighter is set to get back into the ring on May 7 on the Shane Mosley vs Manny Pacquiao undercard in Las Vegas.   His opponent for the fight is Alfonso Lopez who is 21-0 and has won eleven fights in the past two years.

For Pavlik, it is a nice break to step back into the limelight on such a hyped card.  The fight card will be available as part of a Showtime Pay-Per-View and is being promoted by Top Rank and the great Bob Arum.

I had a chance to talk with Pavlik recently about some issues that fans want the answers to.

Paneech: Any chance that you and Paul Williams will ever fight?

Pavlik:  I have always wanted Paul Williams. If you go back and check the records, before I fought Bernard Hopkins, I was supposed to fight Paul Williams.  He backed out because he wasn’t happy with the money.  So I end up fighting a guy two weight classes higher than me, a living legend, Bernard Hopkins, as compared to fighting Williams who was coming up in weight.  I have always wanted that fight. The staph infection was proven and I couldn’t have done much more than had the kid come over to my house and hook me up to the IV.  Now, I am not sure if it would be worth it to fight him because everyone will say that Sergio Martinez ruined him.  It’s kind of a no-win situation, but if that is what the fans and the public want to see, a fight can happen at a catch weight.

Paneech: Will you train the same way as you have in the past using the ironman approach or are you going to change things up?

Pavlik: I am still going to use the ironman training, but we are really also going to change things up this time around.  We are still going to do the strength and agility training using ironman technique.  We are also going to try to get a lot more core work.  I want to do more with bends and flexibility, things that are lower impact on the body and easier on the knees like swimming.  My energy level is good and body is healed and I had a nice little break, but it is time to start working on other things.

Paneech: During your press conference you said you were refocused and hungry.  How hungry are you and can you regain your status as the top dog in this sport at a different weight class?

Pavlik: I thought pretty far ahead and I like the Super Middleweight weight class, it is just loaded with great fighters.  It’s a hell of a division and some people are saying that I am stupid for going there, but I don’t know what weight class they expect me to go to.  There are a lot of competitive fights there for me.  I can’t wait to get back into it, I can’t wait to spar and see where I am at.  The WBC has me ranked number one at that weight class and people are complaining that I have never won a legitimate fight at that weight class, so it is unwarranted.  I did fight at that weight class though.  My second fight with Jermaine Taylor was fought at that weight.

Paneech: So how can you measure the competition and know it’s a good move?

Pavlik: Well, Taylor was beating Arthur Abraham and was destroying Carl Froch.  So, if Taylor was competitive at that weight class what does that say about me?  The only way to address that problem and silence the critics is to go in there and just win.  That’s something I am really looking forward to, getting past Alfonso Lopez on May 7, shaking the rust off, and silencing the critics, again.

Mentally,  Pavlik is ready to roll.  Physically, the weight will not be as big of a problem as it was when he was fighting at 160.  Look for The Ghost to splash back into the sport of boxing with renewed vigor, greater focus, and very realistic expectations.  Personally, I think Carl Froch was out of line when he said he could easily defeat Pavlik.  Time will prove me right.

Kelly Pavlik held a press conference at Jack Loew’s Southside Boxing Club on Tuesday afternoon.  I attended the press conference with hopes of hearing that an opponent had been signed to fight on the Pacquiao vs Mosley undercard on May 7 in Las Vegas.  The plans were discussed and nothing has been finalized as of yet, although an announcement should be coming within a month.  The main topic of discussion was Pavlik completing a 60-day stint at the Ranch Recovery Center.

“I felt like I had to go and there would be consequences either way.  I’m not knocking it, the system works for a lot of people, but most of the people there were forced to go from prisons.  I don’t believe I ever really had a problem.  Most of the rumors start when a guy in a bar sees me having a drink and it turns into a big deal.  What was he doing in there?  What gives anyone the right to be in a bar, but not me?   Was he drinking green tea and acting like an angel?  I know it is not so much what I did, as much as who I am at that point”, said Pavlik in response to an array of questions pertaining to his rehabilitation stint.

“It was a damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation for me.  If I get up and leave Youngstown, then I am turning my back on the city I have defended.  If I stay here, I’m going to do what I do and have to suffer through the rumors.  At first it was rough, and I was angry, but I manned up and dealt with it”, said the former champion.  “I haven’t had a drink in three and a half months, but I would be a liar if I were to sit here and make promises that I will never have a drink again because I don’t know that for sure.”

If there is an underlying story in the dramatic world that is Kelly Pavlik, it would have to be the unconditional support of Bob Arum and everyone at Top Rank Promotions. Pavlik could have been chided by the management monsters, but Arum stuck by his fighter and will surely have him on the fast track back into the limelight where he belongs.  Jack Loew has also been criticized in the past.  Loew has been respectful every time I have talked to him, has never ducked a question, and most importantly, will be in Pavlik’s corner because he helped construct a champion.

Pavlik talked about what he had been and concentrated on where he wants to go.  “I had a lot of time to think and really welcomed more spirituality into my life.  I had time to clear my head and get my thoughts straight.  I want to get back into the ring and I feel refreshed from my time away.  I will be fighting at 168 and have been starting to train.  We are trying to get a fight on the May 7, Pacquiao-Mosley undercard against a decent fighter.  I don’t want to beat a tomato can, I want to be tested.  I weigh about 193 right now, but getting down to 168 should not be a problem. “

Pavlik says he is going to start training in mid-March for a fight he expects to have on May 7.  “I am running, lifting, and training and I feel good, I feel hungry and I feel ready to get back in the ring.  I will start full training and sparring eight weeks out, but will take the fight with six to seven weeks advanced notice.  I want to be a world champion again.“

The obvious tingle to compete was in his eyes, a good sign for Pavlik fans everywhere.

Thank You to John D’Altorio and everyone at Team Pavlik for access and use of the above photos!

Jack Loew has confirmed that Kelly Pavlik is tentatively scheduled to hit the ring on May 7.  Pavlik (36-2, 32 KO) has been inactive since his loss to Sergio Martinez in Atlantic City last April.  Although nothing has been confirmed and no specific opponent has been named, Bob Arum and Top Rank have said they would like to see Pavlik on the undercard of the “Sugar” Shane Mosley – Manny Pacquiao fight to be held in Las Vegas on the night of May 7.

Pavlik has confronted his demons and entered himself into the Betty Ford Clinic for alcohol rehab.  This all happened right before he was set to fight on the undercard of the last Pacquiao fight against Bryan Vera.  He is still a very highly-ranked contender in the middleweight division and poses a threat to anybody else listed with a similar status.

“We don’t know who Kelly will be fighting yet, but the May 7th date is pretty well locked in.  We know that the fight will take place in Las Vegas and will be on the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao – Shane Mosley undercard.”, said Loew.

One of Youngstown’s favorite sons, Pavlik cannot be overlooked by anyone who steps into the ring with him.  Pavlik seems to have it together and can make a splash back in if he can dedicate himself to the sport he ruled again.  He will probably fight a couple of tune-ups before challenging anyone else in contention for the WBC Championship vacated by Martinez.

Loew has been busy training Dan Williams (15-1) who will challenge Harrison Cueto on February 19.  Williams is also getting a crack at the WBC Intercontinental Championship in his hometown of St. Louis on April 14.

Kelly Pavlik has suffered another setback in his attempted return to greatness.  Trainer Jack Loew announced last Monday that Pavlik would not compete against Bryan Vera on the Manny Pacquiao vs Antonio Margerito undercard in Dallas next weekend.  The reason Loew gave for Pavlik backing out was torn rib cartilage.

“With torn rib cartilage, Kelly would not be able to throw his punches effectively, and would also suffer more than usual when taking a body shot to the damaged area”, exclaimed Loew to the media.  Loew pulled Pavlik out of a Paul Williams fight when The Ghost injured his hand and was suffering from staph infection. 

Pavlik went into the Bernard Hopkins fight less than 100% after having his elbow drained and suffering from pneumonia the week of the fight.  “The writing was on the wall twice and I chose to ignore it going into the Hopkins fight.  At that point, I vowed never to let Kelly fight less than 100 percent”, declared Loew.

Pavlik reportedly wanted to continue and fight Vera despite the injury.

Vera was upset not only about losing his biggest payday, but also because he loses his chance to be in the limelight.  “I thought he [Pavlik] was a world-class fighter.  Right now, it doesn’t seem like he ‘s acting like one to be pulling himself out this late.  If he was really hurt they would have said something right away.  I think maybe he is having trouble making the weight again or something.  If he was a man of his word, he would get ready and fight, no matter what.”

The bad news Mr. Vera is that Kelly Pavlik could probably beat your ass with one hand and two broken ribs.  You were a tune-up fight, a stepping stone to bigger things for the former champion, so don’t act like you were deprived of a golden opportunity.

With that being said, Pavlik will resume training once the cartilage heals and Bob Arum, Cameron Dunkin, Jack Loew, and Mike Pavlik decide what the next challenge is.  There is a chance that Pavlik can still fight Vera at a later date by contract lingo of Top Rank.  The contract states that there is a 30-day option to reschedule the fight within 90 days of it’s originally booked date.

The sweet science has been going sour for years and there are so many reasons why.  Boxing is losing popularity as fast as mixed martial arts is gaining.  In the battle of sanctioned combat, there are several reasons for the shift in popularity, most of them should be obvious.  A group of guys huddling around a radio in the 1950’s to hear a good boxing match has been replaced by a group of people gathering in someone’s living room to watch a pay-per-view MMA card on a plasma television.  Yep, a sport once as popular as The Beatles has indeed faded.

Perhaps the biggest problem with professional boxing right now is that the demographic of the sport is mostly male and over 35 years of age.  Boxing loses a fan or two every hour.  The big promoters have failed to reach out to the younger market.  Maybe they just don’t know how.  Bob Arum is a quality promoter, I would say the best in the game.  He is also getting older and has not surrounded himself with any gameplan to build a younger fan-base.

Don King is the worst frontman a sport could ask for.  Just looking at him over the years, he has done nothing but ruin the sport with his corrupt habits.  Mike Tyson would not be as dysfunctional of a human being had he fought for anyone but King.  King spoiled Tyson and then left him floating when the noise settled down.

Another name I am starting to hear more and more in boxing circles is that of Lou DiBella.  DiBella handles Sergio Martinez and says some pretty wild things.  He is just this evil-sounding guy who likes to hear himself talk.  A casual boxing fan is turned away by someone like DiBella.  He has no character when his fighters lose and won’t shut up when they win.  He is not the up-and-coming frontman a sport on life support needs to endorse right now.

Oscar DeLaHoya is a young and charismatic guy who could do more to promote the product.  Golden Boy Promotions has grown over the past couple of years.  My plan of action would be to hire a spokesperson that people want to believe.  One that speaks good English and can articulate a pulse for an upcoming card.  Oscar just sits in the back and smiles. 

Another big problem with boxing is that it is no longer offered on network television.  The sport was supposedly removed because it was too barbaric and a farse of it’s reveled history.  Meanwhile, I turn on CBS a few Saturday’s ago and watched some decent MMA action.  Discard the “too barbaric for network television” excuse.  The lack of mainstream exposure has killed the sport.

Dana White is not my favorite person in the world.  I think he is way too cocky for what he actually does.  However, Mr. White knows how to promote his sport.  The MMA pay-per-views are fun to watch from start to finish, titles can change hands during an undercard fight, and it is usually an entertaining three hours where nobody says, “I will never buy another MMA pay-per-view again”.

The undercard of boxing pay-per-views has been horrid lately.  Usually those promoters do well hyping the main event, but nobody knows much about the other four or five fights or even who the fighters are.  If the main event happens to stink (ex. Hatton vs Mayweather) people will cry wolf and swear off spending their hard-earned cash on boxing shows that are just inexcusably horrible.

It is too obvious, boxing is losing on every scorecard right now.  MMA is getting corporate sponsorships (other than beer distributors), they are putting athletes into other mainstream projects (Dancing With The Stars), and they don’t seem to have any corrupted reputation as far as fight-fixing.