Thousands pour in to downtown bars to celebrate Pavlik

By ELISE FRANCO

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

Boxing fans showed up early and stayed out late to celebrate the Valley’s champion.

While Kelly Pavlik basked in his TKO over Marco Antonio Rubio at Cassese’s MVR on Walnut Street near downtown after the fight, hundreds upon hundreds of fans and supporters spilled out onto the streets of Youngstown and tried to squeeze into the already jam-packed bars downtown.

MVR manager Joe Cassese said his restaurant especially, had a huge crowd all waiting for the chance to catch a glimpse of The Ghost.

“I’ve never seen that much congestion on Walnut Street ever,” he said. “It was an amazing sight to see the Hollow that lit up.”

Cassese said at one point he peeked out a side door and saw people lined up at least two blocks down the street.

“It’s something we may never see again in this town,” he said. “We are so thankful to Kelly and Team Pavlik. ... With out them there’s no way we would have all enjoyed such an electric night.”

Buffalo Wild Wings, on Central Square, was filled to capacity by early evening, and manager Mike Huston said it stayed that way until closing time.

“It was crazy,” he said. “We had people waiting outside, and at one point it was about an hour and 20- minute to wait to get in.”

Huston said a handful of people left after the fight ended, but many coming from the Chevrolet Centre, where they saw the action live, stopped in for a few post-celebratory drinks.