BOXING Pavlik in co-feature July 1; Scrappers' home likely site

Plans should be finalized within a week.
SPECIAL TO THE VINDICATOR
AUSTINTOWN -- Undefeated middleweight Kelly Pavlik will be in one of the featured bouts July 1 on ESPN2's "Friday Night Fights on Tuesday" boxing series.
That announcement was made Thursday at Antonio's Restaurant by Top Rank matchmaker Bruce Trampler and George Chung.
Chung is the strength and fitness coach for the San Francisco 49ers, owned by John and Marie Denise DeBartolo York of Canfield, CEO of American Champion Sports Television.
"We are in the finals of selecting a venue," said Chung. The site will probably be Cafaro Field, but Packard Music Hall and the Struthers Fieldhouse are also possibilities.
ESPN would prefer the summer card to be in an outdoor venue.
"We want the rest of the country to know about Kelly Pavlik and for them to see what Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley is all about," said Chung.
Pavlik is 17-0
Pavlik, 21, from Cornell Street, is 17-0 with 16 knockouts since turning pro two years ago and an impressive amateur career. His last fight was in Las Vegas March 23 when he won by TKO over Cesear Avilla in the sixth round, but he has been inactive since then to allow his ailing right hand to heal.
Pavlik has stayed active during his rehabilitation by running and doing daily cardio vascular workouts. Jack Loew, the man who has trained him since he was a 10-year-old Junior Olympian, was assured that Pavlik is on schedule after a two-month layoff for his fourth fight of the year.
"We started our training camp for this fight two weeks ago and Kelly has been running at six in the morning every day of the week except Thursday and Sunday," said Loew.
"We will begin testing his hand Monday," he added. "He will work on the speed bag next week and resume sparring the beginning of June."
Cleveland amateur national champion Ron McPherson, and pros Romero Johnson and Etianne Whitaker are some of the sparring partners Loew has retained as sparring partners.
Pavlik said he is impatient with the layoff and eager to get back in the ring.
"My right hand feels great and ready, my wind through my uphill running is excellent and Monday I become a lumberjack with my axe when I start chopping trees," he said.
Opponent to be determined
Pavlik's opponent is yet to be determined.
"Kelly is a work in progress and one of the better young fighters in the world," said Trampler.
This will mark Pavlik's first scheduled fight past six rounds and Trampler hinted it could be a 10-rounder.
"I always train for 10 rounds or more, so I will be ready," said Pavlik.
The other co-feature will have former WBA super bantamweight champion Bones Adams (41-4-3) of Owensboro, Ky., against an opponent to be named.
Once the site is determined, which should be within a week, tickets will go on sale.