Pavlik starts training for rematch

YOUNGSTOWN — It wasn't Rocky training for Rocky II, III, IV or more, and it wasn't Philadelphia.

But it was Kelly Pavlik training for Pavlik-Taylor II.

Monday's hour-long session at the Southside Boxing Club on Erie Street kicked off a succession of five-day-a-week workouts leading up to the Feb. 16 middleweight rematch against Jermain Taylor in Las Vegas.

Under the watchful eye of trainer Jack Loew, the WBC/WBO champion went through a light but aggressive regimen that ended a period of celebration and deserved recognition following Pavlik's Sept. 29 knockout of Taylor in Atlantic City.

"We're not changing too much, only starting earlier this time," Pavlik said of the scheduled eight-week preparation period that will be a week or a week-and-a-half longer than the training camp leading up to Pavlik-Taylor I.

"I don't see too much of a difference," Pavlik said. "He's going to come fight the same way and I'm going to fight the same way I did.

"I think we're going to pick up on some of his mistakes — even more than we did last fight," Pavlik said. "Another thing is we don't know what damage he took neurologically and how he's going to be following a knockout like that. So I don't know if he's going to be able to take the same punch that he used to, but I know he's going to come to fight."

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Because Pavlik-Taylor II will be at 166 pounds, Pavlik (31-0) believes he's got the edge.

"We can kind of lift a little more and do things like that so we don't have to kill ourselves to make 160," Pavlik said of the higher limit this time around that will enable Pavlik to maximize conditioning without sacrificing strength.

"For me, it's good because it gives me confidence going in. I'm bigger than Taylor so it's harder for me to make 160. I'm going to be stronger than Taylor. I definitely think I'm going to benefit more than he is."

Not having to make the lower weight will help the fighters' energy level, too.

"When you sit there and go 30 some hours without eating and you're in a sauna and you run three miles a day to make the weight, it takes everything out of you. It drains you."

If anything is different about training, it'll be the amount of film study on the once-beaten opponent.

Pavlik questioned Taylor's decision for a rematch.

"I think it was a dumb mistake," Pavlik said. "I think they're regretting taking the fight at 166. For whatever reason, he wanted it. His excuse [for losing] was he had a hard time making 160. Fighting me in a non-title bout, he gets the short end of the percentage. I don't know what it was, but I think he made a mistake by doing it."

Pavlik's first day back in camp in the red brick building — a former mom and pop grocery store — included rounds on the heavy bag, double-ended bag and speed bag, along with pushups and sit-ups.

The champ didn't even get a break from Loew.

"Jack stayed on me. I thought he'd give me a round off, but he didn't," Pavlik said.

Pavlik had one complaint during his first day — his feet.

"I didn't wear my boxing shoes," the fighter said of the lack of hop in his dance in his size 131/2 athletic shoes.

How was it walking into the gym as a world champ?

"lt's definitely a cool thing, but you've got to throw that out the window because we've got to do the same thing that we did to get us to this point," Pavlik said. "It sounds crazy, but you've got to let that part go."

Pavlik was asked if he cherishes one belt over the other.

"They're both world title belts," Pavlik said. "The WBC has a lot more history behind it, but one doesn't mean any more than the other. Once you get those belts, you know you made it and you're on top [with other champs]."

Pavlik had hand issues at one time, but he says those haven't been debilitating.

"The MRIs kept coming back negative and showing that there's no problem. It was arthritis. That's life."

Will he see a different Taylor on Feb. 16?

"I think he's going to come hungry. What more he could change I don't know. He could try to box a little more, but if he does that, I could stop him from the outside and hit him with jabs. I don't see him changing up too many things."

Pavlik expects to spend the holidays with family.

"That's pretty much how it's been when I've got a fight coming up this time of year, so I don't usually get to indulge in anything," Pavlik said.

Pavlik said that getting in better shape than last time is pretty much impossible.

One certainty is that snow shoveling won't be part of camp technique.

"That's what trucks with a plow are for."