Nothing definite for Pavlik despite reports

By Joe Scalzo

YOUNGSTOWN — Contrary to several online reports, Kelly Pavlik has not been medically cleared to fight, nor is his camp close to finalizing a Dec. 5 date with Paul Williams, according to his manager, Cameron Dunkin.

“He’s not cleared,” Dunkin said. “Right now, we’re just waiting.

“As soon as something’s done, you’ll know.”

Dunkin expects to know more early next week after Pavlik visits his doctor, he said.

Pavlik’s October fight with Williams was postponed recently due to an injury on his left hand. He had surgery last month and was expected to be OK in time for the October bout, but the hand wasn’t healing fast enough, prompting his handlers to postpone the bout.

Dunkin said the hand seems to be progressing, but the Pavlik camp is waiting for a more definitive answer on Monday or Tuesday.

Pavlik’s promotion company, Top Rank Boxing, originally targeted Nov. 21 as a reschedule date but several online sites reported that Dec. 5 is now the target date.

Boxingscene.com said HBO is considering moving Shane Mosley’s Dec. 5 fight to Dec. 26 to accommodate a Williams-Pavlik bout. But Williams’ promoter, Dan Goossen, has been vocal in his frustration over the Pavlik postponement and may not want to wait until December for his fighter to return to the ring.

Williams (37-1, 27 KOs) last fought in April — he won a 12-round unanimous decision over Ronald “Winky” Wright — and Goossen has said his fighter has other options.

“There’s too many variables,” said Dunkin regarding a Pavlik-Williams fight. “Too many things could change. That’s why the people who know something about it aren’t saying anything.”

Pavlik (35-1, 31 KOs) originally injured the hand in February while training for his bout against Marco Antonio Rubio. Complications from a staph infection prompted Top Rank to postpone — then eventually cancel — a planned summer bout with Sergio Mora.

Regardless of when — or if — the Pavlik-Williams bout is rescheduled, Pavlik is staring at one of the longest layoffs of his professional career, which stretches to 2000.

Pavlik has not fought since Feb. 21, when he defeated Marco Antonio Rubio by TKO in downtown Youngstown.

His longest layoff stretched from Oct. 7, 2005 to July 27, 2006 — nearly 10 months — and ended when he knocked out Bronko McKart.

scalzo@vindy.com