‘And the fight’s still on’

YOUNGSTOWN — Making minor home repairs can whip dozens of people into a frenzy — when you are newly crowned middleweight boxing champion Kelly Pavlik.

A relatively small injury to Pavlik’s hands and arms sent the boxer’s fans into a frenzy Thursday. Those closest to him spent a good portion of the day explaining that the boxer will be OK and ready to fight by the time his February rematch in Nevada with Jermain Taylor is set to take place.

According to Debbie Pavlik, Kelly’s mother, the 25-year-old boxer was trying to repair and clean some old windows at his home in preparation for new windows to be installed when the accident took place.

“I told him that they are putting new windows in and he said that he would be embarrassed with [the installers] seeing bugs and stuff between the windows,” she said.

Debbie Pav-lik said her son was lifting the window to clean and make some adjustments when the window crashed down and shattered on his hands and arms. He was later given a little more than 20 stitches to close the wound resulting from the shattered glass.

Debbie Pavlik said the accident happened sometime Tuesday afternoon.

Joe Schiavoni, Pavlik’s attorney, said he took more than two dozen calls from concerned fans and friends throughout the course of the day Thursday.

He said inaccurate accounts about the number of stitches Pavlik received and general concern about the boxer and his career led to the panic.

“People are just really concerned about Kelly, everybody loves him so much because of his last fight,” he said. “You hear a number like 100 stitches and that just sounds so crazy.”

ESPN, quoting Pavlik’s manager, Cameron Dunkin, reported that Pavlik needed 108 stitches on his arms and hands.

“Really? I heard 216 stitches,” said trainer Jack Loew. “I saw Kelly yesterday and it didn’t look like 108 or 208.

“It’s a few minor cuts. People make it sound like his arms are hanging off. He’s got a couple stitches but he’s fine and the fight’s still on.”

The boxer actually received little more than 20 stitches to his hands and forearms.

Loew said Pavlik will likely have the stitches removed in seven to 10 days.

“I was with him all that day and yesterday morning. He is fine. Kelly can’t fix a door knob let alone a window, so I don’t know what he was doing, but he will be fine,” Loew said. “It’s really no big deal. He was lucky that no tendons, arteries or anything else was affected. He’s just going to be a little sore.”

Schiavoni said he believes that word of mouth has begun circulating and Pavlik’s fans now understand the nature of the injury and that the boxer will be OK.

In other news, Pavlik’s rematch with Taylor seems likely to take place on Feb. 16 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, although nothing is official.

“That’s pretty much what it is,” said Loew. “They haven’t put their names on anything but that’s not far off.”

Taylor will probably need to decide on his trainer before the papers can be signed. Taylor may opt to choose a different trainer than Emanuel Steward, who was in his corner the last four fights.

jgoodwin@vindy.com