Pavlik victory has trainer thinking bigger and bigger

YOUNGSTOWN — Opportunity has come knocking with a thunderous fist for Jack Loew.

The 47-year-old trainer of Kelly Pavlik is in great demand now that he is the mentor of a world champion.

Moms and dads with children as young as 4 are asking whether he can turn their sons into champions.

Pavlik’s promoter, Top Rank of Las Vegas, is suggesting that Loew take over the training of some experienced fighters from Cleveland.

Boxing managers from other areas are calling to see if he can train their boxers.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have scheduled him to give an inspirational talk to the team’s front office staff.

A production company suggested he make a training video.

All of that has Loew thinking this may be the time to expand.

“I’m always looking for a new gym,” said Loew, seated on a wooden bench inside Southside Boxing Club, 3311 Erie St. “Only now I can afford it.”

Loew took home a $100,000 check from Pavlik’s Sept. 29 knockout of Jermain Taylor. As trainer, Loew receives the standard 10 percent share of his boxer’s purse.

Loew opened his gym in 1989 in a place that he could afford — an old, brick building in a residential neighborhood. A boxing ring takes up nearly half the space. A punching bag and two heavy bags hang from the ceiling.

Loew has 22 boxers of varying ages and abilities who work out there. At certain times of the year, nearly all of them are at the gym at once. Somehow they fit. “By 4:30, the gym is packed,” he said.

With a bigger place, Loew said he would do more marketing, such as reaching out to kids in schools. He starts working with kids at age 8.

He’s talked with enough parents to know that the interest is there.

“Every parent has a vision of their kid being Kelly Pavlik,” he said.

It’s possible.

Kelly was just 9 when his mother brought him in after a karate class at another location.

The Pavliks knew of Loew because Kelly’s two brothers already had been working out at the gym. But neither of them took to boxing like Kelly.

“I don’t think karate had enough contact for him. He loves contact,” Loew said.

It’s not just adding novices that has Loew thinking of adding more space, however. He’d like to add more big-name fighters as well.

“Kelly’s opened up a lot of eyes,” he said. “You don’t have to go somewhere like Las Vegas or the Poconos to train.”

Boxers from anywhere can work with Loew by spending their two-month training camp in Youngstown, he said. Hotels and meals would be part of their training expenses.

This business would change Loew’s life in another way.

He would no longer have to work two jobs.

He’s been sealing driveways for 10 years and owns a company called Driveway Kings.

“Hopefully, I’ll be too busy to do the sealing,” he said.

There’s money to be made in boxing.

Loew will continue receiving 10 percent of Pavlik’s purses, which are expected to be multimillion-dollar deals.

Loew said, however, that he’s thinking about how to improve his business, not his personal life.

The South Side resident did indulge himself in one way after Kelly’s first big fight, a victory over Edison Miranda in May.

Loew bought his first new car.

As he looks forward, Loew said he’s grateful for one thing — Pavlik believing in him when many were saying he needed a big-name trainer to win a world championship.

“I owe most of this to Kelly for sticking with me,” Loew said. “He was pulled in a lot of different directions, but in the end, we shut all the critics up.”

shilling@vindy.com