Pavlik may say aloha to Hopkins

By JOE SCALZO

Vindicator sports staff

Not many people expected Bernard Hopkins to emerge as Kelly Pavlik’s next opponent.

Including Pavlik.

“It’s a surprise. It’s definitely a surprise,” said Pavlik, whose handlers are closing in on a non-title bout with the former middleweight champion to take place Oct. 18 at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall. “I didn’t know one thing about it.

“I think it’s a great fight, if he takes it. If that’s the fight, I’ll beat him.”

According to Pavlik’s promoter, Top Rank chairman Bob Arum, the fight will be at 170 pounds — 10 more than the middleweight limit — and will be on HBO pay-per-view.

No contracts have been signed, but there is an agreement in principle.

“When we looked and saw who was out there, we realized this was the best fight for Kelly both from a money standpoint and a notoriety standpoint,” said Arum. “Hopkins is a huge name in the middleweight division and a victory over Hopkins will put Kelly in good stead.”

The two sides still need to negotiate the money details — they will reportedly split the revenue 50-50 — but Pavlik’s co-manager, Cameron Dunkin, was optimistic enough to give the fight the go-ahead.

“I’m just glad he’s fighting,” said Dunkin, who has negotiated with a slew of candidates in recent weeks. “I think the people in Youngstown will be happy with it.”

Pavlik, 26, flew to Hawaii from Los Angeles on Thursday and is expected to wed his fiancée, Samantha Kocanjer, in a private ceremony today. Kocanjer is the mother of his 2-year-old daughter, Sydney Ellyse.

The 43-year-old Hopkins (48-5-1, 32 KOs) formerly held all four middleweight titles before losing to Jermain Taylor in a split decision in July of 2005. Hopkins then lost the rematch to Taylor in December of 2005 by unanimous decision. After unanimous decision wins over Antonio Tarver and Ronald Wright, Hopkins lost a split decision to Joe Calzaghe at 173 pounds on April 19 of this year.

Pavlik (34-0, 30 KOs) will be making his third trip to Boardwalk Hall. He defeated Taylor last September to win the WBC and WBO titles and won his first title defense last month with a third-round knockout of Gary Lockett.

“Hopkins is a good fighter, but he’s got lots of flaws,” said Pavlik, who has seen the two Taylor bouts and the Calzaghe bout. “He’s not active enough for me. Plus, I hit harder than Calzaghe, so he might get banged up a bit.”

The Hopkins bout ends an extended search. As recently as last week, Arum said it was “very likely” Pavlik would fight WBO welterweight champion Paul Williams. At least a half-dozen other fighters have been mentioned as possibilities in recent weeks.

When reached Thursday evening, Pavlik said he was a little jet-lagged following his six-hour flight, especially since he had an early wake-up call following Wednesday’s ESPY awards. Pavlik lost out to Floyd Mayweather for the “Fighter of the Year” ESPY. The awards, which are sponsored by ESPN, are the equivalent to the Academy Awards of sports.

“It was an honor to be there,” he said, “but I was bummed I didn’t win.”

Mayweather won the award for the second straight year, beating out four other fighters, including Pavlik and Calzaghe.

Mayweather fought just twice last year, earning a split decision over 35-year-old Oscar De La Hoya in May, then knocking out Ricky Hatton in December, successfully defending his WBC welterweight title each time.

“I don’t see how he got it,” Pavlik said. “He beat De La Hoya, who turned pro in 1992, and [light welterweight] Ricky Hatton, who shouldn’t have even been up at that weight class.

“But it’s up to the people. It’s their vote.”

Although Pavlik can make a pretty good case for having a better 2007 — he knocked out Jose Luis Zertuche, Edison Miranda and Taylor — he doesn’t have the name recognition of Mayweather, who recently competed on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars.”

Is that show in Pavlik’s future?

“No, no,” he said. “I don’t need to do that.”

Pavlik hung out with several Ohio athletes Wednesday night, including former Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk (now with the Green Bay Packers) and quarterback Brady Quinn and wideout Braylon Edwards of the Browns.

“It was neat,” he said. “The experience of it all, to be around everybody and all the athletes and to be at the ceremony was pretty cool.”

Is he looking to win next year’s ESPY?

“That’s what we’re aiming for,” he said.

Because of his hectic schedule, Pavlik didn’t hear about Calzaghe’s comments regarding a future fight with the South Sider. Calzaghe told his hometown paper on Wednesday that he won’t surrender his WBO super middleweight title and might fight Pavlik at that weight after his light heavyweight bout with Roy Jones Jr. in September.

Calzaghe (45-0, 32 KOs) had hinted at retirement after the Jones bout.

“I hope he’s telling the truth,” Pavlik said. “We really wanted that fight this time but he decided to fight Roy Jones.

“I’d like to fight him.”

Although Pavlik wants to fight IBF middleweight champion Arthur Abraham in 2009, a Calzaghe bout would take precedence, Arum said.

“Absolutely,” he said. “That’s a much bigger fight.”

Many observers consider Calzaghe the top pound-for-pound boxer in the world, but Pavlik isn’ worried.

“He’s one of the better ones,” Pavlik said. “I would take care of him, though.”

scalzo@vindy.com