THE WEIGHT IS OVER || Pavlik: ‘It’s fight time’

Pavlik: ‘It’s fight time’

By JOE SCALZO

Vindicator sports staff

Pavlik vs. Espino weigh-in

Video

Kelly Pavlik and Miguel Espino at the official weigh-in on Friday, Dec. 18 at Youngstown State University in anticipation of their Dec. 19 fight. Both fighters made weight.

YOUNGSTOWN — After making the 160-pound limit at Friday’s weigh-in, Kelly Pavlik walked into a back hallway at Beeghly Center and grabbed the two most precious things he could find — a bottle of water and his 3-year-old daughter, Sydney Ellyse.

“I love you daddy,” she said.

“I love you, babe,” he said.

It was a fitting moment in what has been — by boxing standards, anyway — a love-fest between the Pavlik camp and Miguel Espino in the weeks leading up to tonight’s middleweight title fight.

Espino has repeatedly said how honored he is for the opportunity, Pavlik has repeatedly said he’s not overlooking the lightly-regarded Espino and the two couldn’t even manage a mean stare-down for the post weigh-in photo shoot.

Fortunately, when asked for his last public comments, Pavlik was ready to start letting loose.

“We’re going to whup some [butt] and I’m going to go eat,” he said. “We’re ready, we’re anxious to go.

“It’s fight time.”

About 300 fans attended the weigh-in, which doesn’t compare with the crowds he draws in Atlantic City for his weigh-ins, but wasn’t too shabby considering it was in the basement of Beeghly Center on a cold afternoon exactly one week before Christmas.

One of those fans was Ohio governor Ted Strickland, who traveled from Columbus to officiate the weigh-in. He will not attend the fight.

“We are so pleased and proud of Kelly Pavlik and we looking forward to a great fight tomorrow night!” Strickland said to the crowd.

The 5-foot-11 Espino weighed in at 159 pounds, while the 6-2 1/2 Pavlik weighed 160. It was a huge relief for Team Pavlik, which had to cram eight weeks of training into an abbreviated five-week camp.

Pavlik’s father and co-manager, Mike Sr., is in charge of making sure his son makes weight for each fight and was extremely concerned about the weight four weeks ago when his son was training in Las Vegas. One of the major reasons Pavlik returned home early was to get access to the downtown YMCA for late night cardio workouts.

When someone congratulated Mike Sr. for Friday’s result, he grinned impishly and said, “Was there any doubt?”

Afterward, Pavlik headed to his restaurant in Struthers, the 13th Round, to refuel and rehydrate for tonight’s bout.

The restaurant was set to hold a prefight party on Friday and a post-fight party tonight.

Was he attending both?

“No, I won’t be there for [Friday’s],” Pavlik said, chuckling. “But I will be there tomorrow night for the victorious party.”

scalzo@vindy.com