43
‘Great guy ... great story’
Photo
SIGNING ON: Kelly Pavlik, center, sits with the co-authors of his biography: David Lee Morgan, left, and Greg Gulas. The three were present for a book signing at Barnes & Noble in Boardman on Friday.
Photo
LUCKY LADY: Lauren Zetts, 10, of Campbell has her shirt autographed by middleweight boxing champion Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik at a signing for his biography. Pavlik and the book’s co-authors, David Lee Morgan and Greg Gulas, were on hand at the Boardman Barnes & Noble on Friday for the signing.
Kelly Pavlik added another chapter to his boxing saga with a book signing at a bookstore in Boardman.
By Jon Moffett
Mike Pavlik Sr.
Video
Mike Pavlik Sr. says he is somewhat upset with Top Rank concerning the decision to cancel the Mora fight. He was attending a Friday May 15, 2009 book signing event in Boardman Oh. for a book about his son Kelly Pavlik.
BOARDMAN — Kelly Pavlik has made a living with his hands.
Now the middleweight boxing champion hopes his story packs the same punch.
Pavlik was at Barnes & Noble in Boardman on Friday to autograph copies of the new biography “Kelly ‘The Ghost’ Pavlik: The Pride of Youngstown.”
Pavlik — who consented to about 100 interviews over 18 months to provide the background for the book — admitted he is about halfway done with the book.
His review? “I think it’s good.”
Hundreds of enthusiastic fans poured into the bookstore to meet and greet Pavlik and the co-authors, Akron Beacon Journal sports writer David Lee Morgan and Greg Gulas. The trio signed the books, and Pavlik signed T-shirts and other memorabilia for the crowd.
“It makes me happy because I think he is a true hero for us,” Lauren Zetts, 10, of Campbell said. “And we’re here to make sure we support him.”
Her father, Ed Zetts, said, “It’s great to come out here because she follows him. She goes to Lowellville, and he graduated from Lowellville. She just likes him.”
Connor Calabrette, 10, and his sister Carley, 6, also stood in line for their hero’s autograph. Connor, who has been a fan of Kelly’s for three years, said his room is decorated with posters of Pavlik.
“I’m a fan of him because he’s from Youngstown,” Connor said. He added that he’s read the first chapter of the book and likes it so far.
Not everyone was there to get something from “The Ghost” though.
Larry Scarazzo, 84, of Youngstown stood patiently in line with a gift for the champ, a mannequin head resembling Pavlik.
Scarazzo said the head was a gift from the brother of Lalu Sabotin, a light-heavyweight boxer from Warren who fought in the 1940s and 1950s.
“Kelly is a great guy, has a great family and is a great story,” Scarazzo said.
The book is the latest sports bio from Morgan and Gulas. Morgan, a graduate of Youngstown State University (’93) and Warren Harding High School, has also written a biography of Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James. Gulas previously wrote “My Memories as a Brooklyn Dodger,” a biography of George “Shotgun” Shuba, a former major-leaguer and the first white man to shake Jackie Robinson’s hand after Robinson’s first major-league home run.
“David Morgan did a heck of a job on the book putting it together,” Pavlik said. “I like the way he bounces around throughout the book; you never really know where it is leading to.”
While there has been some controversy surrounding one of Pavlik’s famed hands this week, he effortlessly glided a silver Sharpie marker over dozens of books.
He said signing a book about him was something special.
“It’s actually pretty neat,” Pavlik said. “The book is interesting, and it really turned out pretty good.”
When asked about his favorite part of the book, Pavlik displayed his well-known wit:
“Well, it’s about me,” Pavlik said with a laugh. “So I already know everything that’s in it.”
He added that he hopes someone will write a sequel when he decides to hang up his gloves for good.
jmoffett@vindy.com