Bus rides set for Pavlik fans

By Joe Scalzo

scalzo@vindy.com

Youngstown

If you’re hoping to travel to Atlantic City for Kelly Pavlik’s April 17 fight, Jim Davis is offering a bus trip that won’t take you for a ride.

For $275, you can buy a package that includes transportation for two people, two nights at the Clarion Hotel and two fight T-shirts.

The price does not include a fight ticket.

“It’s the cheapest trip we’ve ever done,” Davis said. “We haven’t cut the quality; we just cut everything to bare bones as far as what we’re spending.

“I think that’s why we’re going to get a great response for this fight.”

Past trips cost between $385 and $405, but because Pavlik’s fans have such a good reputation — i.e. Youngstown has a lot of fans who like to drink and gamble — Davis was able to negotiate for the best hotel rates.

“The economy really helped us out, actually,” he said. “Things are slow in Atlantic City right now.”

The trip isn’t limited to couples. Single occupancy is $225, triple occupancy is $340 and a group of four would pay $405, or $101.25 per person. It’s $65 per person for just the bus ride.

“Youngstown turns out in numbers so when we told them [the hotel and bus company] we wanted to come back, they were really happy,” Davis said. “And if you don’t want to go to the fight, you can still go on the bus trip and go gamble.”

Davis has almost filled one bus and will add others based on demand. He filled three buses for Pavlik’s first title defense, against Gary Lockett in June 2008, and is hoping having a top-caliber opponent like Sergio Martinez will draw more fans.

The bus leaves on April 16 at 4 a.m., which gives fans a chance to attend the weigh-in that day. It leaves on April 18 at 8 a.m. and will be back in Youngstown around 5 p.m.

“After the weigh-in, you pretty much have the weekend to yourself,” Davis said. “You can do whatever you want.”

For more details, call Davis at (330) 518-7067, Lori Greenwalt at (330) 727-8278 or Mike Cefalde at (330) 787-4228.