Trampler matched Pavlik optimally

The Top Rank matchmaker brought the middleweight along carefully.

By JOE SCALZO

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

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.”

And Ivory?

“Oh, Anthony thinks he’s gonna win all of his fights,” said Trampler. “Ivory just said, ‘I’ve fought heavier punchers than Kelly Pavlik.’ It was just part of Kelly’s overall education. It’s very tough to get rounds for a guy like Kelly and sometimes those rounds come in the least likely place.”

That fight made Pavlik a better fighter, Trampler said. It also built trust between the Pavlik camp and Trampler, whose specialty is finding the right fights for his fighters.

“No two fighters are alike,” said Trampler. “They all take different paths toward achieving their potential. What I try to do is take fighters as far as they can go, and maybe a little further.”

Pavlik was discovered in the amateurs by his current co-manager, Cameron Dunkin, an independent talent scout who brought the 18-year-old Pavlik to Top Rank.

Trampler saw potential in Pavlik, but he also saw inexperience.

“I initially made the analogy that Kelly was like a young colt,” said Trampler. “He was a little gangly and he was just growing into his body at that point. He was kind of feeling his way along physically.

“But the one thing he always had, and you could see it immediately, was that he was very heavy-handed. When he hit guys, no matter what level he was fighting at, he hurt them.”

Trampler has been in boxing for 60 years and he’s learned that while you can improve a fighter’s technique, you can’t teach him how to punch.

“You’re either a born puncher or not,” said Trampler, who compared Pavlik to former heavyweight Earnie “Black Destroyer” Shavers of Warren. “And you don’t see too many of them that can punch like Kelly.”

Trampler was patient with Pavlik — sometimes a little too patient, Pavlik thought — because he wanted to let his other skills catch up with his punching ability. Most fighters think they’re ready before Trampler does, a fact he’s fine with.

“I want them to be that way,” he said. “I know Kelly thought he was ready a year before [Trampler did] and he was champing at the bit.

“But when I put a fighter in a world title fight, I want him to win it. In Pavlik’s case, when we were finally ready to make the [Jermain] Taylor fight, he was ready.”

Pavlik, of course, knocked out Taylor in the seventh round to win the title. He’ll fight Taylor in a non-title rematch Saturday, then make his first title defense in June.

Although Pavlik has already become one of boxing’s biggest names, Trampler hasn’t focused on his fighter’s arrival. He’s still looking ahead.

“Kelly has not hit his peak and he won’t for two or three more years,” Trampler said. “He’s still in the process of learning his trade and refining his craft. He’s still got a lot to learn. I’m very frank with him that there are flaws in his offense and his defense.

“That said, he’s come a long way already. And he has a chance to be really good.”

scalzo@vindy.com