Pavlik ranks loyalty first in new deal

The middleweight champion agreed to a multiyear deal with Bob Arum’s Top Rank Boxing company.

By Joe Scalzo

Vindicator sports staff

YOUNGSTOWN — Of all the factors involved in Kelly Pavlik’s new deal with Top Rank — money, promotion, security — one stood out above all: loyalty.

“I was brought up the right way,” said Pavlik, who was set to become a free agent in May 2010. “I’ve been with Top Rank for going on 10 years now and we’ve had a good working relationship.

“I wanted to give them the first chance in negotiations and they came back with a good offer.”

Neither Pavlik nor Top Rank chairman Bob Arum disclosed particulars of the new deal, mainly because many details haven’t been ironed out.

But it is expected to replace his current deal — which Pavlik signed in 2005 before his rise to fame — and extend at least until 2011.

As arguably one of the top five fighters in boxing, Pavlik would have had plenty of suitors had he decided to ride out his old deal and become a free agent. But Pavlik has been with Top Rank since turning pro in 2000 and wasn’t in a rush to make a change.

“I’m at a point in my career when I want to make the right deal,” Pavlik said. “We’ve always had a good working relationship. There haven’t been any hiccups and we’ve seen eye-to-eye and that’s rare in boxing.”

“It’s a multi-year deal and everyone is happy,” added Arum, speaking by phone from Tampa, Fla. “Now I’m turning my attention to rescheduling the [Sergio] Mora fight.”

Pavlik, the WBC and WBO middleweight champion, was scheduled to fight Mora on June 27 in Atlantic City, but the fight was postponed for mysterious reasons.

Arum said it was because of a staph infection Pavlik suffered in one of his hands following his February bout against Marco Antonio Rubio. Pavlik, however, said the cut had long since healed and insisted he was healthy enough to fight.

Regardless, neither party seemed interested in rehashing the details on Thursday and both sides are eager to see Pavlik back in the ring.

“I’m glad they kissed and made up,” said Pavlik’s father and co-manager, Mike Pavlik Sr. “Kelly’s always been a loyal dog and it’s just good that things worked out.

“He’ll probably retire through Top Rank.”

Arum said he will spend this week trying to hash out details for a September Pavlik-Mora fight, possibly in Atlantic City.

“We’re not under any legal obligation to do so, but morally they should get the first chance if they want the fight,” Arum said of the city.

The 27-year-old Pavlik (35-1, 31 KOs) is coming off a knockout victory over Rubio and is facing his longest layoff in years. If he fights in September, the seventh-month break will be his longest since 2006, when he fought Bronco McKart in July after a nearly 10-month break.

Since then, he’s been one of boxing’s busiest big-name fighters, with eight bouts over a 21‚Ñ2-year span.

Pavlik Sr. said his son is closer to the end of his career than the beginning.

“He’s been fighting nine years now,” he said. “People don’t realize that. They think he’s just now bursting on the scene.”

The layoff has kept Pavlik out of the spotlight but a win over Mora could be a precursor to a huge bout with IBF middleweight champion Arthur Abraham in December or January.

Pavlik said he’s ready to get back in the ring.

“I’m really ready to get back to training,” he said. “I want to get back in the swing of things.”

scalzo@vindy.com