Pavlik excited for fight downtown

Kelly Pavlik 2008, A Year in Pictures

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Pavlik vs Hopkins

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Kelly "The Ghost" Pavlik lost to Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins by unanimous decision in a 12-round bout Saturday October 18, 2008 in Atlantic City. Photos by William D. Lewis.

Pavlik and Hopkins Youngstown rally

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Kelly Pavlik Fight Night

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By Greg Gulas

Weight trainer Rocky Taumoepeau got his due during an appreciation dinner at the Maronite Center.

YOUNGSTOWN — Prior to his ascent to the top of the middleweight class, Kelly Pavlik fought Lenord “The Haitian Sensation” Pierre at the Chevrolet Centre; one of four fights that he has fought locally during a stellar professional career.

When he returns to the Chevrolet Centre to face Marco Antonio Rubio on Feb. 21, it will mark his second title defense but his first local appearance since winning the middleweight championship.

In addition to his many backers, Pavlik seems to be excited most about the opportunity to defend his crown in front of so many hometown fans.

Speaking at Saturday’s “Night with Champions Appreciation Dinner” at the Maronite Center, he noted that he has already put October’s loss to Bernard Hopkins out of his mind and is ready to train for Rubio.

“This fight will be a great experience for everyone and good for the entire area,” he said. “We drew more local people to Atlantic City than the capacity of the Chevrolet Centre, so this is a payback to all of them for their continued support.

“The atmosphere will be electric,” Pavlik said.

“I won’t train any differently, but weight is my biggest concern right now as I will need to get down to 160 pounds from my current 175 pounds.

“Rubio is a tough opponent; someone who has been around a while and a boxer who has good pop in his punch. He always comes to fight.

“The loss to Hopkins was a personal setback, but I can still accomplish what I originally set out to accomplish,” Pavlik added.

The dinner, a night of appreciation for Pavlik’s long-time weight trainer, Rocky Taumoepeau, also raised funds for the YSU Rich Center for Autism.

Taumoepeau, who has been Pavlik’s weight trainer for the past 10 years, is excited about seeing his pupil fight locally and happy to see so many former students at the event.

“I am truly humbled tonight; speechless might be more like it,” Taumoepeau said.

“Over the last 30 years I have worked with the grandfathers, their sons and now their grandsons. To see so many of them here tonight is really a great feeling.

“Everyone supports Kelly so to now have him fight locally in front of so many fans is really a very special feeling,” he added.

Former Cleveland Browns star Tim Manoa, who is a cousin of Taumoepeau, called Pavlik one of the most caring athletes he has ever seen.

“Kelly’s not only a champion in the ring but in giving back to the community. It’s an exciting time for everyone locally; tonight because of two very fine causes and in February when everyone can cheer him on at the Chevrolet Centre.

”Everyone wants to knock the top guy from the perch, but Kelly will hopefully learn from his last fight and see what he needs to do better, then train even harder for his next time out,” Manoa stated.

Former USBA and IBF cruiserweight champion, Jeff Lampkin, is happy that Pavlik will get the opportunity to defend his crown in front of the hometown fans.

“Kelly has a great management team and that is very important. I was young back then and didn’t know what I know now, but I never really had that same opportunity,” Lampkin said.

Greg Richardson, former WBC bantamweight title holder, feels the Chevrolet Centre will be packed with the advantage going to Pavlik.

“Kelly’s last fight didn’t destroy him and won’t have much of an impact on his upcoming fight with Rubio. If anything, it should make him even hungrier.

“He can always rely on his punches, but now Kelly has to kick his boxing game up a notch and eye the KO in the later rounds,” Richardson noted.

Local attorney Lou Schiavoni, who serves as Pavlik’s advisor, legal counsel and along with son, Joseph, marketing agent, is delighted that Kelly’s upcoming defense will be staged locally.

“Kelly is a competitor who wants to win, whether it’s in darts, golf or bowling. He wasn’t at the top of his game against Hopkins and that bout should only make him more determined next time out.

“Don’t expect him to leave anything in the gym. Fans will witness Kelly taking everything into the ring against Rubio,” Schiavoni said.

Former Pittsburgh Steeler and current YSU assistant football coach, Jerry Olsavsky, might have summed it up best when he said, “We get a chance to see a world class event with a world class champion — and it happens in our own backyard.”