Family, friends and fans give boxer a ‘boost’

Those attending the send-off had little doubt about who will win the fight.

By JOHN KOVACH

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

YOUNGSTOWN — If boxer Kelly Pavlik could harness the outpouring of love, support and cheers he received from hundreds of his friends, neighbors and fans during his hometown send-off Tuesday night in front of his house on Cornell Street on the South Side, he would pack dynamite in his punches when he challenges Jermain Taylor for the WBC middleweight championship Saturday night.

Although that can’t be done, the undefeated Youngstown boxer told his fans he intends to channel all of their love and support into incentive and motivation to help him defeat the unbeaten Taylor of Little Rock, Ark., at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City in their scheduled 12-rounder.

The long-awaited and big championship battle will begin about 11:15 p.m. before an expected full house of 12,000 fans and an HBO national television audience.

“Thank you for your support. It means a lot to me. It is huge support from my hometown,” said the grateful Pavlik over a loud speaker from his front yard to the throng of fans who filled the street as darkness descended on the crowd. “I guarantee you that on [Saturday] that I am going to put on a show for this area and the fans. This definitely gives me a boost.”

Pavlik, who patiently greeted all of his fans in the street and signed autographs and Pavlik T-shirts and posters on top of the hood of a car, displayed a very mature patience and equanimity throughout the whole event despite being surrounded and pressed by fans on all sides wanting the attention of their hometown hero.

Asked if he feels like he is carrying the Youngstown banner into the world spotlight, he agreed that he is “to a point,” and that he feels like he is a Youngstown representative and would like to try to help put Youngstown “back on the map.”

Team will leave today

Pavlik and his traveling entourage, which also consists of his father and co-manager, Michael Pavlik, as well as trainer Jack Loew and cornerman Mike Cox, a Youngstown policeman, will leave Youngstown this morning at 7:30 for the Pittsburgh airport and fly into LaGuardia Airport in New York City.

Michael Pavlik said that when they get to New York, that “we will have a press conference and some meetings and then we will [head for] New Jersey and to Atlantic City [Wednesday night].”

Also on hand was Michael’s mother and Pavlik’s grandmother, Stella Pavlik, who was in seventh heaven as she milled through the crowd experiencing all of the affection bestowed on her grandson.

“His grandfather, Michael, would have been so proud of him,” said Stella, tears welling in her eyes. “He died the same year Kelly was born. I live in the same neighborhood just a few streets away.”

Stella believes Pavlik will become champion, and for profound reasons.

“I think he will win because he is a very good boy, good with me, polite with people. He never was a bad kid. When he was a boy and came over my house, his favorite food was pizza, and we all would spread out a blanket and have a picnic on the living room floor,” recalled Stella.

Neighbor Dove Ross agreed with Stella. “He is wonderful. He is very good to everyone. It is a very close-knit neighborhood. His personality is wonderful. He has a lot of respect for you and is a gentleman. He is a good model for young kids to look up to,” she said.

Church friends on hand

Many of Pavlik’s supporters were from his and his father’s church, nearby St. Matthias, including Dorothy Hock of Poland who wants Pavlik to end the fight quickly.

“I hope he gets it done quicker than 10 because I don’t want the poor kid exhausted. I’d like to see him do it in four rounds,” said Hock.

Bob Smercansky, whose son, Dave, is athletic director at Boardman High, also is a Pavlik backer.

“Kelly goes to our church. That’s why we are celebrating today. He is a good Slovak boy and he has a great father and mother. I pick him to win in the 10th round,” he said.

Other fans’ fight predictions varied, but had Pavlik winning.

“I think he will win by the sixth round because he is in better condition,” said Bob Franko of New Middletown. “He has to keep jabbing with his left and keep him away so he can throw his power right.”

Added Tom Morella, also of New Middletown, “I think he will win in the late rounds and by the ninth round. He will wear him down.”

And Joe Scavina of Boardman sees it going five rounds with Pavlik ruling. “He’s too fast and quick. He’s going to get [Taylor] in the corner and it will be over,” he said.

Other predictions

Friend Ben Santiago of Campbell said, “I’m hoping he will knock him out in nine.”

Another friend, Mona Rouser of Youngstown, said, “I think he will knock him out. It won’t go anymore than three or four rounds because he is a better fighter, has a better trainer and is stronger.”

Former state senator Harry Meshel said, “I think Kelly will win between the seventh, eighth or ninth rounds. But if Jermain is in terrific shape, it could go the full 12.”

And Kelly Childs of Youngstown, who works at the Chevrolet Centre, said, “I believe he will win it in the fourth round. I just got a funny feeling.”

So stay tuned Saturday night to see who has it right, and to see if Youngstown will have a new world champion.

kovach@vindy.com