300 fans give Pavlik a lift at weigh-in for boxer at Beehgly
By Jon Moffett
Fans said the boxer is the face of the Valley and showed their support.
YOUNGSTOWN — When asked what Kelly Pavlik means to her, 11-year-old Ireland Beatty has only six words to share.
“He means the world to me,” she said grinning.
Ireland and her mother, Tiffaney, were among about 300 people who attended the Friday weigh-in for tonight’s middleweight title fight between Pavlik and challenger Miguel Espino at Youngstown State University’s Beeghly Center.
“We’re here to root on Kelly,” Beatty said. “We’re huge Pavlik fans, and we’ve been to all the fights.”
Also in attendance was Dan Coyne, 57, who has never missed a Pavlik fight.
“I’ve been following Kelly for a long time; I saw him fight up in Connecticut before he hit the big time,” Coyne said.
“I’ve seen him fight in Atlantic City, Connecticut. I saw him take the title from [former champion Jermain] Taylor, I saw him clobber Gary Lockett.”
Unfortunately for Coyne, a previously scheduled company Christmas party will prevent him from attending tonight’s fight.
But it won’t affect his passion for Pavlik.
“He’s just a regular guy, just like us,” he said. “We identify with him because he’s not an extravagant kid. He’s just a middle-class kid who is sincere; just a regular guy and a tremendous fighter.”
Coyne said he’ll keep close tabs on the fight.
The Beattys will be present and cheering for Pavlik. Ireland may cheer the loudest.
When asked to predict the fight, Ireland scoffed slightly and said “Kelly’s going to knock him out in the third round.”