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Hazimihalis hopeful he can stick to plan
By Joe Scalzo
Youngstown
Chris Hazimihalis had a good game plan for his pro fight.
Then it started.
“I think his first fight crowd got to him,” said his trainer, Jack Loew. “There was a lot of excitement in getting in there for his first fight in his hometown and the game plan went right out the window.”
Fighting an unwilling lightweight fighter (Toledo’s Norman Allen)on the undercard of Kelly Pavlik’s Youngstown title fight in December, Hazimihalis started out passive but soon ramped up the intensity, eventually earning a third-round TKO.
But he wasn’t impressed.
“I’ve got to correct a lot of stupid things I did fighting that day,” Hazimihalis said by phone earlier this week. “I’ve to get smarter and not be lazy [with my form].”
After a frustrating four-month layoff in which at least two opportunities didn’t pan out, the Campbell native will fight his second pro bout on the undercard of Pavlik’s April 17 bout in Atlantic City. He will face Ramon Ellis (0-4) of Philadelphia.
“It [the layoff] was a little bit frustrating but Jack kept telling me it happens, especially since I don’t have a promoter starting out,” Hazimihalis, 24, said. “I guess it wasn’t meant to be.
“I just kept working, trying to stay sharp.”
Hazimihalis, a two-time Ringside amateur champion and former 141-pound Cleveland Golden Gloves champion, fought about 40 amateur bouts before finally turning pro.
“Chris has a lot of great basic fundamentals,” Loew said. “And his work ethic is second to none.”
Loew is hoping the April 17 show can get Hazimihalis some exposure, which could lead to a promotion contract.
“Even if there are only 15 people in the stands, all the big-time writers are there and those are the people you need to impress,” Loew said. “That’s what they did with Kelly — they got him exposure on the undercard of the big fights.”
Hazimihalis’ father owns a painting company, so Chris, while not wealthy, doesn’t need a huge signing bonus or a monthly stipend.
“That’s a selling point to promoters,” Loew said. “He just needs fights.
“I think he’ll box full-time this year and stay full-time until he decides this ain’t for him. Or maybe he’ll decide it is. It’s all a matter of how Chris progresses.”
Although the April 17 fight primarily benefits Hazimihalis’ pro career, it should also help the fight’s bottom line. He has a strong following in Campbell and could bring 100-200 people with him.
“I’m sure half of Campbell will be there,” Loew said.
Hazimihalis said he’s grateful for the chance to be on another big card and hopes to take advantage of it.
“This is a big show,” he said. “It’s good to be in that type of atmosphere and it’s only going to help you.
“To be able to see Kelly defend his belt and just be in that atmosphere and see everything is really great. It should be a fun time.”