Pavlik win opens up many doors

YOUNGSTOWN — With one night’s work, Kelly Pavlik’s trainer, Jack Loew, earned the biggest check of his career, increased his profile in the boxing world exponentially and drank a lot of free beers.

When asked how he was feeling, he smiled and pointed to his T-shirt, which read “Life is good.”

“That’s all you need to know, brother,” he said.

And this is just the beginning.

Pavlik’s knockout victory over Jermain Taylor last Saturday made him more than just a middleweight champion. It made him a celebrity.

He’s already received an offer to throw out the first pitch at one of the Yankees-Indians playoff games (“I’d love to do that,” said Pavlik) and appearances on The Late Show with David Letterman or Late Night with Conan O’Brien are possible.

“If he stays champion until he’s 30, he could make more money than Oscar De la Hoya,” said Loew, who joined Pavlik and Pavlik’s father, Mike, for a one-hour TV call-in special on WFMJ-TV 21 Wednesday night. “That guy’s made $400 million.”

For more, see Thursday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com