Here’s how you can go to the fight

Only about 100 tickets are available for the Pavlik-Taylor fight in Atlantic City.

By TIM YOVICH

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

YOUNGSTOWN — If you’ve put off making plans to attend the championship fight between Kelly Pavlik and Jermain Taylor in Atlantic City, you’d best scramble — and fast.

“Bad Intentions” Taylor, the undisputed middleweight champion from Little Rock, Ark., will put up his title next Saturday night against “The Ghost” Pavlik of Youngstown, the No. 1 challenger.

Ticketmaster said going into the weekend, it had only 100 tickets remaining for the main event at Caesars Atlantic City Hotel.

They are selling for between $50 and $400.

And there aren’t any inexpensive rooms left in Atlantic City for next weekend. And don’t plan on staying at Caesars. It’s sold out for the night of the fight.

“Typically, fights are sold out,” said a Caesars’ representative.

To make hotel space even more of a premium, singers Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony kick off their tour in Atlantic City the same night as the fight.

High-priced rooms

Get out your credit card if you want a room in that town.

AC Central Reservations, a data base of hotel rooms in and around Atlantic City, said Trump Plaza, which is next to Caesars, and the Tropicana, about six blocks away, do have vacancies.

Trump Plaza rooms are going for $534 per night plus tax, while a room at the Tropicana is $549 nightly plus tax.

Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants in Youngstown, Boardman, Austintown and Niles have about 15 tickets remaining for a bus package.

The $275 price includes the ride to and from Atlantic City, room at the Holiday Inn Express in Atlantic City and a fight ticket with a $100 face value.

Shane Headley, manager of the Buffalo Wild Wings Boardman facility, said the bus leaves at 8 a.m. Saturday from the Austintown restaurant at 6000 Mahoning Ave. and returns about 11 p.m. Sunday.

That leaves some time for gambling, he noted.

Headley said a fight fan can stop off at any one of the four Buffalo Wild Wings, sign up, pay up and get an itinerary.

FAB Limousines Inc. in Austintown has a $280 bus express package, including tickets.

Caron Precurato, FAB tour manager, said 35 tickets are available for the 55-passenger bus. The seat is $100, and ticket, $180.

The coach leaves its New Road facility at 6 a.m. Saturday and returns Sunday morning.

Other ideas

Sheila Goldich-Sorma of Independence, a former Youngstowner and 1985 Cardinal Mooney High School graduate, said taking a gambling junket to Atlantic City might solve the problem.

She has been president of Lucky Junkets Inc. since 1990, running jet flights out of the Youngstown-Warren Regional and Cleveland International airports.

The cost is $229 for double occupancy at the Taj Mahal Casino Resort. The price includes the flight, room, transfers and hotel tax. There are four or five seats remaining.

Goldich-Sorma has a flight leaving Youngstown-Warren at 2 p.m. Friday and returning Sunday between 5 and 7 p.m.

The flight takes about an hour.

Of course, you’ll have to find your own ticket to the championship fight.

Travel agencies haven’t put together any packages for the fight.

Chris Chalker, a sales representative for Pan Atlas Travel Service in Boardman, said there simply hasn’t been a call for packages.

David Powers, an agent with Tippecanoe Travel Service in Youngstown, said Tippecanoe attempted to put a package together for the fight, but it couldn’t get the cooperation of the airlines.

For a little over $100 for now, fans can get a round-trip ticket from Pittsburgh International Airport to Philadelphia International Airport, Powers said.

“Everybody is cost conscious,” Powers said, noting fans can stay near the Philadelphia airport and drive to Atlantic City on Friday and return Sunday.

Powers’ best suggestion: Don’t wait until the last minute, as prices are sure to increase.

yovich@vindy.com