Pavlik roundup News and notes

Rock the vote: Kelly Pavlik was nominated for an ESPY for “Fighter of the Year” earlier this week. The ESPYs, which are sponsored by ESPN and given to the top athletes and teams in sports each year, are based on fan voting. You can vote online at ESPYS.tv through July 12. The ceremony is July 16 in Los Angeles and will air July 20 on ESPN. “It’s cool to be nominated,” said Pavlik, who will attend the ceremony. “Hopefully we get it.” When asked earlier in the week if he’d vote for himself, he said, “You know, I think I will.” Recently retired boxer Floyd Mayweather won the award last year and is up for the honor again this year. Former super middleweight champ Joe Calzaghe is also in the mix, along with female boxer Holly Holm and mixed martial arts fighter Georges St. Pierre. “I’m very proud of Kelly,” said Pavlik’s trainer, Jack Loew. “He deserves it. He was the best fighter in 2007 and he’s had a great 2008. He should win it. Mayweather shouldn’t keep winning these awards.” Loew said he’s voted “3,500 times. I’ve overloaded my computer.” The ESPY isn’t the only recognition ESPN is giving Pavlik. A writer from ESPN The Magazine is in Youngstown this weekend to work on a story about Pavlik for an upcoming issue.

Prizefighter no prize: Kelly Pavlik is one of the fighters in the recently released video game “Don King Presents: Prizefighter.” Although he signed a deal with 2K Sports to appear in the game, he didn’t even get a free copy. “They were supposed to send me a copy, but I went and bought it,” he said. The verdict? “I played it one time,” he said. “It’s not a bad game, but it’s no ‘Fight Night.’ ” EA Sports produces “Fight Night” and the fourth version of that game is in production now and will be released next year. “That’s the one I’m waiting for,” said Pavlik.

Remembering Johnny: Pavlik said he was impressed by the turnout for Saturday’s dinner honoring Johnny Swanson. Tickets for the event were sold out and Pavlik joined former Youngstown fighters Harry Arroyo, Jeff Lampkin and Greg Richardson at the benefit. “I pretty much grew up with Johnny,” said Pavlik. “I knew him since I was 9 years old and we went to high school [at the Joint Vocational School] the last two years. It’s awesome to see this many people show up.”

Finally: Loew said he’s planning the first “Bob Roth Memorial Boxing Tournament” for Aug. 15 in honor of the former Vindicator correspondent who followed Pavlik for much of his career and wrote often about area boxing. Roth, one of the Valley’s most colorful sports figures, died of cancer two years ago at age 72. Although he was best-known as a writer, his P.A. announcing talents were the stuff of legend. “We’re going to dress someone up like Bob and have him be the announcer for the tournament,” Loew said, smiling.

Joe Scalzo