Pavlik's friend asked not to file charges

Staff report

MINERAL RIDGE

A man who police say was punched by ex-world champion middleweight boxer Kelly Pavlik on Saturday during a Foo Fighters concert told police he did not want charges to be filed.

The victim, a 42-year-old Canfield man, also would not tell police why he and Pavlik were fighting — and said he and Pavlik had been friends for years and that Pavlik “didn’t mean anything by it.”

Pavlik, 33, of Sugarbush Drive in Canfield, was cited for misdemeanor assault and has a court date in Niles Municipal Court today.

Pavlik had told The Vindicator on Saturday that he had just been “goofing around” when police showed up.

The police report, which was released this morning, said two officers who were working the event at the Pine- tree Plaza were told there was a fight and Pavlik was involved. Reports said when the officers got there, Pavlik’s fingers were bloodied and he had bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and smelled of alcohol, as did the victim.

Reports said Pavlik told police he was “joking around.” One of the officers said he saw Pavlik punch the victim twice.

Reports also said security personnel told police it appeared when Pavlik arrived that he had already been drinking.

Pavlik told The Vindicator on Saturday that reports that he was drunk at the concert are “bull crap.” He was behind the drum set, not out in the crowd, he said.

Reports of him stumbling might be true, but attributable to health problems he has, he said.

“That’s why I retired,” he said. “I have a history of health problems. I walk funny.”

He also said he had been at a charity event in Cleveland for Akron Children’s Hospital immediately before the concert, and he did not arrive drunk.

He did drink at the concert, “but I was not hammered,” he said.