BOXING Pavlik defeats Ivory for 19th
The unbeaten Youngstown boxer won a unanimous eight-round decision.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Veteran middleweight Anthony Ivory has 15 years experience as a pro boxer. After his eight-rounder with Youngstown's Kelly Pavlik Friday night, he said, "This kid can go with the best of them and he hits harder than most of them."
Pavlik jabbed beautifully, worked lightning-like combinations and landed his usual devastating body shots to win a unanimous decision over the 39-year-old Ivory, who has only been stopped four times in 99 professional fights.
Only second to go distance
Ivory was only the second man to go the distance with Pavlik, now 19-0. Two judges voted 80-72 for Pavlik and the third 80-71.
Through the first four rounds Pavlik had his way with the continually clinching and grabbing Ivory (28-67-4). In the fifth round, Pavlik landed a solid left hook to the body and it appeared the fight could be over, but Ivory hung on to survive the round.
Pavlik coasted through the sixth round and had a big finish in the final round.
"After a near seven-month layoff I felt good about my movement and the way I could get out of clinches to bang Ivory," said Pavlik.
"I hurt him with good head and body shots. I landed rights to the body that I thought would finish him, but he was awkward to fight and he knew how to stop an attack by clinching and hanging on me.
Learning experience
"It was a learning experience and will help me when I face someone like Ivory down the road," he said.
Jack Loew, Pavlik's trainer, added, "Against a guy who can make anyone look bad this is the best Kelly has looked as a pro. His ring movement was excellent with every round better than the previous round. When the final bell rang, for a fight that was two more [rounds] than Kelly ever went, he wasn't even breathing hard.
"Going the distance is the best thing that could have happened to Kelly."
Praised by co-manager
Pavlik's Las Vegas-based co-manager, Cameron Dunkin, was elated over the performance.
"This is by far the best Kelly has looked and the best shape he has ever been in as he fought a tried and true veteran who has been in the ring with the best middleweights in the world, and came away with every round."
The fight was part of a six-bout card at the Kansas City Expo Center and televised by the Telefutura Network.