Man: Pavlik hit me at bar

Photo

Kelly Pavlik

The champion’s trainer denies the allegations.

staff report

YOUNGSTOWN — A 45-year-old Boardman man says boxing champion Kelly Pavlik and Pavlik’s trainer assaulted him at a South Avenue bar.

Ronald Cappitte told police that he went into East Side Civics about 11 p.m. Saturday, walked up to Pavlik, 28, to say, “Hi,” and Pavlik punched him in the groin.

Cappitte reported the allegation to police Monday morning.

“It’s a flat-out lie,” said Jack Loew, Pavlik’s trainer. “I was there with my wife, my son, my future daughter-in-law. We were standing there talking.”

No charges have been filed.

Pavlik couldn’t be reached Monday.

Police noted a scratch on Cappitte’s forehead and bruises on his ribs and chest, the report said.

According to what Cappitte told police, he fell to the floor after being struck. He then got up and told Pavlik that if he hit him again, they would be fighting outside.

Cappitte told police that Pavlik then struck him in the forehead and he fell again. Pavlik and Loew, 50, then both jumped on Cappitte, punching him repeatedly in the body, the report said.

Loew said that Cappitte and Pavlik were talking and everything was fine, then Cappitte grabbed Pavlik around the neck like he was trying to put him in a headlock. At first, Loew thought the two were goofing off, he said.

When he realized they weren’t, he separated the two and walked with Pavlik away from Cappitte. Cappitte then got into a fight with two more groups of people, and Loew broke up the second fracas.

“Kelly didn’t hit anyone and neither did Jack Loew,” Loew said, adding that he has witnesses who will corroborate that.

Editor's note: This story was corrected on July 28, 2009 with the correct name of the Boardman man who reported the allegation to police.