Loew says Pavlik is ready for Hopkins

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Kelly Pavlik and trainer Jack Loew

By Joe Scalzo

The trainer said Kelly is prepared for 12 rounds if it goes that long.

Jack Loew’s interviews usually resemble Kelly Pavlik’s fights — straightforward, hard-hitting and entertaining.

But on Tuesday, Pavlik’s trainer managed to stay on message and seemed more like Bernard Hopkins, slipping in a few jabs while providing little for his opponent to attack.

“He is what he is,” Loew said of Hopkins. “Bernard Hopkins is a great legend and we look forward to fighting him.”

Ready for the jab?

“We expect to fight the way we usually fight,” said Loew. “And if he has the [guts] to stand there and punch with us, it could be an early night for him.”

Saturday’s bout in Atlantic City pits a powerful fighter in his prime against a crafty veteran.

Much of the pre-fight hype has focused on whether Pavlik can be the first to knock out Hopkins — the fight itself is billed “Unstoppable” — and whether or not the 43-year-old has anything left after his hall of fame career.

“We’re not going in looking for the knockout,” said Loew, taking part in a nationwide teleconference with Hopkins’ trainer, Nazim Richardson. “We prepare for 12 rounds and if the opportunity comes [for the knockout], we’ll take that.”

Richardson, who remembers Pavlik from his amateur days, said the 26-year-old is going to get schooled in the ring by a much more experienced fighter.

Pavlik’s preferred method of attack is to come straight at opponents with a flurry of punches, something Hopkins won’t allow him to do, Richardson said.

“In the first couple rounds, Kelly is going to realize Bernard is not an easy target,” he said. “They’re going to have to make adjustments.

“The bottom line is, you can teach a 2-year-old calculus but he’s not going to be able to regurgitate it. There’s only so much a young man can do and learn in a small amount of time. We’re going to execute at a high level and give him something he hasn’t seen before.”

The bout will be at 170 pounds — 10 more than the middleweight limit. Pavlik fought Jermain Taylor at 166 pounds in February and Loew said afterward Pavlik wasn’t as sharp as he would have liked.

“We learned a little bit from fighting Jermain Taylor at 166,” said Loew. “We were so concerned about the weight. We’re not worried about it this time. We’re doing his normal workouts and he’s eating better food, just more of it. It’s fueled his energy as he went into training. I think there’s more bounce in his leg.

“We’ll probably be around [168 or 169] on Saturday night. Like I said, the weight is not a concern. We’re staying sharp.”

Hopkins’ weight isn’t a concern, either. Although he fights 10 pounds heavier than in his heyday, Hopkins is a fitness fanatic who usually comes to camp in good shape. He’s trained the last five weeks in Miami.

“He had a top-notch training camp,” said Richardson. “It usually runs smooth. Because of his lifestyle, he always comes to camp in great shape.

“We’re looking forward to this. A fight like this defines a young fighter.”

Loew predicted Pavlik would win — “Of course I think he’ll win; I’d be crazy to say anything else,” he said — and said Pavlik will be entering Saturday’s bout at the top of his game.

“We’re looking forward to the fight and facing a legend,” he said. “As long as the fight lasts, I think it’ll be good.”

scalzo@vindy.com