Trampler helped guide Pavlik’s career

By Joe Scalzo | February 11, 2008 at 6:59p.m.

By JOE SCALZO

On Jan. 23, 2004 — 19 fights into Kelly Pavlik’s career — Top Rank matchmaker Bruce Trampler took the Youngstown middleweight out to Kansas City for an eight-round bout with a tomato can named Anthony Ivory.

Ivory had an illustrious record of 29-66-4 at the time.

“It sounds bizarre,” said Trampler, “and the Pavliks, this was their first venture into pro boxing so they naturally didn’t get it.”

At that point, only five of Pavlik’s bouts had lasted past the second round. Only two had gone more than three rounds (a pair of six-round decisions).

Trampler knew his promising fighter wasn’t going to get much better that way.

“So we were like, ‘Where are we going to find a guy who can take Kelly’s punches for eight rounds?’ ” Trampler said. “That’s Anthony Ivory.”

Ivory wasn’t much of a threat to beat Pavlik, but he wasn’t going to get knocked out, either.

“So the fight went the distance,” said Trampler, “and Kelly tried everything. He really unloaded on the guy. It was an important physical and psychological hurdle. Kelly knew he could go eight rounds and get through it.

“Most commissioners wouldn’t have approved that match because it appeared lopsided, but it helped us.”