KELLY PAVLIK Flu bug has boxer down, but not out

The Youngstown native's training schedule for his July 1 bout was disrupted.
SPECIAL TO THE VINDICATOR
YOUNGSTOWN -- With the first 10-round bout of his pro boxing career 10 days away, Youngstown middleweight Kelly Pavlik became a victim of the erratic weather.
After his usual four to five miles of roadwork -- in the rain Tuesday morning -- Pavlik developed flu symptoms. Workouts and sparring were put off for two days.
"It was apparent that he could do nothing but take himself down, so after a while I told him to go home and get some rest until he felt better," said Jack Loew, Pavlik's trainer.
No setback
"Believe me, this flu bug is in no way a training setback," Loew added. "He is well ahead of his preparation schedule, and the days he missed will be like his weekend off. He is a professional who knows what he has to do to be ready."
Pavlik, 21, said the disruption isn't as bad as it seems.
"I made sure of getting the necessary rest with these few days off and being ahead on my training schedule," he said. "I will easily be caught up with good workouts and sparring this weekend."
A chief concern has been Pavlik's right hand, which was injured and re-injured within his last three fights.
"I have been training with bigger gloves and my hand feels great," Pavlik said.
Dr. Lance Ferkula, a chiropractic physician who has been treating Pavlik's hand, said the healing process is satisfactory.
"His right is now at about 85 to 90 percent and he is hitting like it is all the way back," Loew added.
On July 1, with ESPN2 filming the entire card for tape delay on its "Friday Night at the Fights on Tuesday" series, Pavlik will go against Rico Cason of Lebanon, Tenn.
Pavlik takes a 17-0 record with 16 stopped opponents into the ring against a ringwise veteran. Cason is 16-7 with four knockouts.
The skinny
"He might not put many people away, but what we do know about him is that he can take a shot," Loew said of Cason. "When we see films this weekend, we will know a lot more about him and have a definite fight plan."
Pavlik has never gone more than six rounds as a pro, so endurance could be a factor against a veteran boxer such as Cason.
Their middleweight 10-rounder is a co-feature, with a featherweight 10-rounder pitting Clarence "Bones" Adams (41-6-3, 19 KOs) and Manuel Sepeda (15-6-2, 5 KOs).
Adams, the former WBA super bantamweight champion, is coming off a pair of 12-round decision losses to Paulie Ayala.
Top Rank's Bruce Trampler is the matchmaker for the July 1 main-event bouts and Clevelander Tom Vacca is performing the same duty for the undercard.
Pavlik will make several public appearances this weekend.
Saturday night, he will throw out the first pitch at the Mahoning Valley Scrappers' home game. That same evening, he will be at BW-3 in the Eastwood Mall, where films of his fights will be shown. Sunday afternoon, Pavlik will be working out at the Eastwood Mall, near J.C. Penney.
Fight information
The undercard will consist of two six-round bouts and a pair of four-rounders.
The Cafaro Field gates will open at 7 p.m., with the first bout scheduled for 8. Ticket prices are $100 for ringside seats, $50 for on-field seats and $25 and $15 for grandstand general admission seats.
Outlets are at the Cafaro Field box office, the Eastwood Mall offices, Cordy's Cigar Box in Girard, Bob's Barber Shop and Clemens Wine Cellar in Youngstown.
Tickets also can be obtained from Loew at the Southside Boxing Club (330-501-5713), Mike Pavlik (330-788-4157) or Mike Cefalde (330-792-6954).