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Pavlik to put focus on Youngstown with pre-fight event
Three pairs of tickets will be given away to those with the best signs or banners.
YOUNGSTOWN — A public pep rally at Chevrolet Centre promoting Kelly Pavlik’s next fight will be an opportunity for the middleweight boxing champion to show off his hometown to a national audience.
“Kelly definitely wants to show off the city,” said John D’Altorio Sr., Pavlik’s publicist. “Kelly’s focus is on promoting Youngstown.”
He and Youngstown will get to show off Wednesday.
Numerous national media outlets including HBO and ESPN as well as journalists from major cities including Chicago, Los Angeles and Philadelphia will be on hand during a noon press conference at Chevy Centre. The press conference will be followed by a public pep rally at 1 p.m. at the city-owned arena.
The doors open at noon for the free rally.
“This will put Youngstown on the map,” D’Altorio said. “This is a big deal.”
Pavlik is fighting Bernard Hopkins in Atlantic City on Oct. 18 in a nontitle bout at the 170-pound light heavyweight limit. The middleweight division is capped at 160 pounds.
Wednesday’s event is designed to help promote the fight and to give Pavlik’s fans the opportunity to be part of the build-up to the match, D’Altorio said.
Pavlik’s team is hoping a few thousand people will attend the event.
“Kelly wants the fans to be there,” D’Altorio said. “Kelly wants to keep Youngstown involved in his career.”
Among those at the event will be Bob Arum, chairman of Top Rank Inc., co-promoter of the Oct. 18 bout.
A big turnout Wednesday could leave a good impression on Arum about a Pavlik fight in northeast Ohio. Pavlik had wanted this fight to be in Ohio, preferably Youngstown.
Before capturing the middleweight crown, Pavlik fought at the Chevrolet Centre once, beating Lenord Pierre by technical knockout in the fourth round Nov. 2, 2006. The center could seat about 6,000 or so for a boxing match. That’s too small for a Pavlik fight. Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall, where the Pavlik-Hopkins fight will be held, can hold more than 13,000.
Pavlik fans are strongly encouraged to bring a sign or banner to the rally. Pavlik will personally select the three best signs or banners. Each winner will receive a free pair of tickets to the Oct. 18 fight in Atlantic City.
The Chevy Centre box office will sell tickets to the Pavlik-Hopkins fight, and Pavlik merchandise will be available for purchase during the rally.
The Poland Seminary High School marching band will play at the rally.
“There’s going to be a show of force from Pavlik Nation” at the center, said Phil Kidd, the city’s downtown director of special events and special projects, who’s helping with the event.
“Kelly won’t be able to have a fight [at the center], but they want to do something in Youngstown,” Kidd added. “Having the national media in Youngstown will help promote the city, the downtown and the Chevy Centre. We’ll have national exposure for Youngstown. This is a unique opportunity.”
skolnick@vindy.com