Pavlik is ready and waiting next fight

He'll defend his NABF middleweight title July 27.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown middleweight Kelly Pavlik hasn't fought since winning the NABF title in October, but he hasn't had to worry about staying in shape.
His one-month-old daughter, Sidney Ellise, takes care of that.
"She keeps me busy," he said, laughing. "She's awesome, but she's tiring, too. She definitely keeps me in shape."
Good thing. Pavlik (27-0, 24 KOs) has done his best to stay sharp while waiting for his chance at the WBC title. He'll defend his NABF title in a 12-round bout with 34-year-old Bronco McKart (48-6, 31 KOs) July 27 at the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut.
The fight will be broadcast on OLN.
McKart making comeback
McKart, of Monroe, Mich., is a former WBO light middleweight champion who took a year off and is making a comeback. He's won his last two fights.
"I'm really excited," said Pavlik, who will leave for Cleveland to begin training camp at the end of next week. "Bronco's a tough, tough fighter.
"He's a dangerous fighter, but he's somebody we should get past. If I don't get past him, I don't deserve to be ranked in the top two or three in the world."
Of course, Pavlik is hoping that fight will only serve as a tune-up for a WBC title bout. Pavlik was guaranteed a chance at the belt against the winner of Saturday's WBC bout between Jermain Taylor and Ronald "Winky" Wright. Taylor kept his belts after narrowly escaping with a controversial draw in Memphis, Tenn.
Wright felt he won the bout decisively and bolted from the ring as soon as the decision was announced.
Not impressed
Pavlik watched the fight at home and came away unimpressed.
"Not very impressive at all," he said. "I thought Winky won the fight. If you look at the punch stats, he clearly outlanded [Taylor]. Even on power punches, he outlanded him.
"Taylor doesn't like getting hit and when he does get hit, he steps back. I'd really like to fight Taylor. I'm glad he [kept his titles]."
Of course, Pavlik still might not fight Taylor. Taylor might elect to vacate his WBC title. If that happens, Pavlik would fight a top contender for the belt.
"Chances are, [Taylor] will fight once somebody gets the title," said Pavlik. "There will be more money involved.
"You know how it goes. All business."
Most people expect Taylor and Wright to fight in a rematch, although Saturday's decision sparked the usual bickering.
Wright, feeling that Taylor benefited from a hometown advantage (Memphis is less than 150 miles from Taylor's hometown of Little Rock, Ark.), vowed never to fight Taylor again.
Taylor wants breather
Taylor's promoter, Lou DiBella, vowed Taylor would not fight Wright again and told reporters Taylor's next fight should be a breather against "someone who comes straight ahead. And we'll fight in Little Rock."
Pavlik is the WBC's second-ranked contender (behind Wright). He's ranked third by the WBA and fourth by the WBO.
Even though Pavlik, 24, became a father on May 11, his focus on his boxing career remains as strong as ever.
He's planning to eventually marry his girlfriend of five years, Samantha Kocanjer, but not until things slow down a little bit.
"We're going to wait a little while," he said. "We don't want to rush anything. We want to do it the right way."
scalzo@vindy.com