Got endorsements? Kelly does

By Joe Scalzo

He’s on everything from bank billboards to a national clothing line.

Have you been dying to use Kelly Pavlik to perfect your pursuit of pugilistic power? Do you want to wear his clothes, use his bank, put a life-sized poster of him on your wall and protect your house with the very same surveillance equipment he endorses?

If so, you need help. (And not just the professional kind.)

That’s where this story comes in.

Since winning the middleweight title last September, Pavlik’s face has appeared on everything from local bank billboards to national advertisements for his clothing line with Affliction.

It’s the (nice) price of fame, helping Pavlik pad his bank account (with Home Savings and Loan, by the way) and increase his profile.

Locally-based Home Savings was one of the first companies to sign Pavlik, putting up billboards of Pavlik and his daughter last fall and arranging some charity autograph appearances.

“Kelly is a hometown guy and there are similarities in his values and ours,” said Sue Stricklin, the bank’s vice president of marketing. “He’s not just a champion inside the ring, he’s a champion outside the ring. He speaks very highly of the area.

“We thought it was a good fit.”

Greenwood Chevrolet (which provided a new SUV in exchange for some autograph sessions and a few commercials), Harley Davidson (commercials and autograph appearances), BW-3 (which threw its hat in the ring — literally — by paying Pavlik to wear its cap after fights) and Phantom Fireworks (which put its logo on his boxing trunks) soon followed.

Two wins over Jermain Taylor helped Pavlik’s profile spread to a boxing fan in Cincinnati named Thomas Wein, who two years ago started a digital surveillance company called MonitorClosely.com. Wein approached Pavlik about becoming the company’s official spokesman and Pavlik was happy to sign.

“The No. 1 rule in boxing is to protect yourself at all times and that’s what our company is about,” said Denise Donahue, the company’s senior vice president of marketing. “There were a lot of interesting parallels with where Kelly was at this stage in his boxing career and where our company is. We’re both very much on the upswing.”

Another upstart company, Wallhuggerz, has the same idea. Founder Ron Smith, a South Side native who graduated from Mooney in 1976, will launch the company’s Web site (www.wallhuggerz.net) on Friday, selling life-sized, Fathead-type images of Pavlik.

“I think he’s one of the best things to happen to the Valley in a long time,” said Smith, who expects the images to sell for around $100 plus shipping and handling. “I think the fans will appreciate something like this.”

If your daily subscription to The Vindicator (hint, hint) doesn’t quite satisfy your reading thirst for all things Pavlik, you’ll be happy to know there’s a book in the works. David Lee Morgan, an Akron Beacon Journal sports writer who penned a LeBron James biography soon after he was drafted by the Cavs, has a deal with the Pavliks to write his biography.

Morgan, who recently finished a book on Jim Tressel that has yet to be released, is planning to work with Vindicator correspondent Greg Gulas.

“The thing is, when you do a book, it doesn’t matter how great the idea is, you have to be sure it’s going to sell,” said Morgan, who expects the book to come out sometime in 2009. “I think there’s enough local and national interest in Kelly for it to sell.”

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Kelly Pavlik Trading Card

Topps recently produced some Pavlik trading cards, which were inserted randomly in boxes of its 2008 Co-Signers baseball cards. There are two cards — one featuring Pavlik by himself and another with Pavlik and former lightweight champion Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini — and each is personally autographed.

That’s the good news. The bad news is, Pavlik is one of about 30 boxers with his own card and there’s only one in each box. Topps produced about 500 of the Pavlik cards and another 50 with Mancini, making them rare — and expensive.

So, if you want one, you can buy several boxes and press your luck, or go on eBay and empty your wallet. (Expect to pay about $40.)

Pavlik’s biggest endorsement is with Affliction, a 3-year-old clothing company that has exploded in popularity. Pavlik is one of several boxers signed by the company, which has also features mixed martial arts fighters, baseball players and celebrities. The company has a Pavlik T-shirt and is developing jump suits and training shirts.

The multi-year deal nets Pavlik more than a $100,000 per year. (Most local endorsements are in the $10,000 per year range.)

The endorsements go through his agents, local attorneys Lou and Joe Schiavoni, who make sure Team Pavlik is comfortable with the company and that Pavlik isn’t making appearances while during training.

In the case of Affliction, the offer and the clothing easily bested interest from companies such as Under Armor and Reebok. His clothing is available at the Buckle store in the mall and online at www.afflictionclothing.com.

“I love their clothing line,” said Pavlik. “Boxers don’t usually get big endorsements, but they came in with a huge, huge offer and I couldn’t turn it down.”

Affliction vice president Tom Atencio said the company was drawn to Pavlik’s fighting style — and his bright future.

“He’s one of the few guys who steps up every time,” Atencio said. “There’s no denying he’s a champion. He’s fought every opponent they put in front of him.

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Screenshot
Don King Presents: Prizefighter

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Screenshot
Don King Presents: Prizefighter

“He wasn’t groomed as a star. He earned it.”

Of course, most boxing fans have no chance of fighting like Pavlik. But, starting next Tuesday, they can at least pretend when 2KSports releases “Don King Presents: Prizefighter” for most video game systems.

What do you call it when a tough kid from the South Side grows up to be a champion and is featured on a video game?

Well, to quote King, it’s spectabulous, magnitacular and stupenderific.

Only in America.

scalzo@vindy.com