Pavlik clobbers opponent in 2nd for Vegas triumph

The Youngstown fighter knocked Carlton Holland down three times.
LAS VEGAS -- Youngstown middleweight Kelly Pavlik remains undefeated after Saturday's second-round knockout of Carlton Holland at the MGM Grand on the undercard of the Oscar De La Hoya-Bernard Hopkins middleweight championship fight.
Pavlik, 22-0, scored his 20th professional knockout, nailing Holland with a straight right and a right uppercut on the way down that had the veteran counted out at 2 minutes, 59 seconds of the second round.
It was the third knockdown of the fight as Holland, a quick-moving puncher, attempted to take the fight to Pavlik, but was never able to land more than one punch at a time.
"[Holland] was no pushover as he had good head movement, but I caught him with some good rights and he was looking for my left all night," Pavlik said.
Pavlik scored an early knockdown, catching Holland with a short right midway through round one.
With little time left in round one, Pavlik caught Holland with a left hook to the body and an overhand right that sent him to the canvas before the bell.
In the second round, Holland tried to jab and move away from Pavlik, but he couldn't hide as Pavlik continually pursued him, finally finishing him in the closing seconds of the round.
Holland, from Durham, N.C., has a 16-10-1 record.
He came into the fight weighing 164 pounds while Pavlik weighed in at 163.
Top condition
"I worked here for five weeks and was in excellent shape with great gym work, but I wanted to show these people out here for this card what I've got," Pavlik said.
Jack Loew, Pavlik's trainer, said, "Kelly could have beaten anybody tonight with his hand speed and punching power. He has never been in better shape and when he is like this he is a ring machine who I feel could beat both of the guys at the top of this card."
Kelly laughed at Loew's comment, but admitted, "It is time to fight higher caliber guys and soon."