Pavlik fight: Where’s the hype?

Pavlik vs. Espino press conference

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By Jon Moffett

Many said the holiday season has overtaken the majority of their time.

YOUNGSTOWN — Christmas lights and a decorated tree are powered up in the heart of the city, but there doesn’t seem to be the same electricity for one of the area’s icons as there was 10 months ago.

When Kelly Pavlik successfully defended his middleweight title against Marco Antonio Rubio in February, the city transformed into a virtual hub of the boxing world.

The same, however, cannot be said for Saturday’s title defense against Miguel Espino in Beeghly Center at Youngstown State University.

“I haven’t really heard anything about it at all,” said Dia Alessi, 39, of Youngstown as she dined Thursday afternoon at 20 Federal Place.

There were several students on the basketball court Thursday at Beeghly for a light shoot-around. The otherwise empty facility — which will have seats for about 7,000 boxing fans — didn’t show any signs that it would soon house a pay-per-view event featuring the middleweight boxing champion of the world.

Around town, many Mahoning Valley residents weighed in to discuss why this pre-fight atmosphere feels vastly different than just 10 months ago.

“We’re right in the crescendo of the holiday season, so it’s going to be a little slow,” said Doug Esenwein, regional manager for Buffalo Wild Wings. “Everybody is focused on the holiday bustle right now.”

Alessi, who was having lunch with her husband, Joe, agreed the “holiday rush” is still at the forefront of many people’s minds.

Others said the opponent or circumstances of the fight lessened its blow.

Pavlik originally was scheduled to defend his title against middleweight Paul Williams. But the fight was postponed before subsequently being canceled due to a staph infection in Pavlik’s left hand. Then, the two sanctioning bodies of whom Pavlik is champion — the WBO and WBC — threatened to strip the champ of his belts if they were not defended.

“I didn’t even know who he was fighting until you just told me, to be honest with you,” said Ron Remsey, 28, of Youngstown.

Josh Lippiatt, 31, of Cleveland, said Pavlik’s February fight was hyped throughout northeast Ohio. He said he had heard nothing of Saturday’s fight until he arrived in Youngstown.

Maybe the last-second fight was a letdown to fans?

“It’s kind of like you get all excited for one fight, but then they cancel it and [Pavlik] signs to fight against someone else,” said Jayne Betz, a bartender at O’Donold’s in Austintown. “You support him, which I do, and buy his T-shirts and he goes on to fight someone just to do it.”

But Esenwein — whose Buffalo Wild Wings was ground zero for fan mayhem in February — remains hopeful the fight will gain momentum as it draws near.

“We’ve actually noticed that there has been more conversation about the fight,” he said. “Once the work week settles down, these people will realize they don’t want to miss [the fight].”

The downtown restaurant will offer the same amenities it did last February: A heated tent will be set up Saturday before the fight, and a band and drink specials will be featured. The restaurant also will show the fight live.

Betz said she hopes the holiday hangover and other circumstances don’t prevent Pavlik’s fans from showing their support.

“I hope it sells out; I really do,” she said. “He’s still our guy.”

jmoffett@vindy.com