Pavlik good news for Youngstown, boxing

The new middleweight champion of the world celebrated by buying some tires

for his car. His trainer got up early as usual to spread asphalt on a few

driveways.

And the people of Youngstown, Ohio, enjoyed a double dose of good news for a

town that rarely has any.

One day General Motors announces it will build a new car at the nearby

Lordstown plant, ensuring the economic future of the hard-scrabble area for

at least a few more years.

The next, Kelly Pavlik shocks everyone but himself and his pavement-laying

trainer by knocking out Jermain Taylor to win the 160-pound title.

“It was almost like someone was writing a script,” trainer Jack Loew said.

If they were, Hollywood would be buying. Inspiration sells, and there’s

something nicely uplifting about a blue collar fighter and his blue collar

town both making it big.

For more on this story, please see Friday’s Vindicator or Vindy.com.