The next edition of ESPN’s prime-time newsmagazine E:60, Tonight! Tuesday, October 14, at 7 p.m. ET, will include a profile of KELLY PAVLIK, the undefeated middleweight boxing champion from Youngstown, Ohio. Pavlik takes on two-division world champion Bernard Hopkins in a 12-round light heavyweight battle Saturday, October 14 at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall..
(From the ESPN release): Pavlik is a fighter and a hometown hero. In many ways, the middleweight boxing champion is much like the legendary movie character “Rocky Balboa.” Born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio, Pavlik represents hope for his beleaguered city. At one time, Youngstown was a bastion of middle class success. The steel mills that once served as the nerve center of a booming economy now sit shuttered and still, a reminder of what used to be. E:60 profiles this homegrown champion – the story of a young boy who found his true passion in the sweet science of pugilism. Pavlik trains in the same gym and with the same trainer he has used since he was nine years old. It is a story about a gifted fighter who boxes much like his beloved hometown – workmanlike, with a steely resolve and a powerful one-two punch..
E:60 correspondent Jeremy Schaap tells the narrative of Kelly Pavlik – from his start at the young age of nine, to his frustrations in the fight game that almost led him to quit the sport, through his victory over Jermain Taylor to claim the middleweight crown. The piece includes interviews with his longtime trainer, Jack Loew; his father, Mike; boxing historian Bert Sugar; and another Youngstown boxing legend, Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini.
Remaining tickets to Pavlik vs. Hopkins, priced at $700, $500, $350, $200, $100 and $75, can be purchased at the Boardwalk Hall box office, by calling Ticketmaster (800) 736 1420 or online at www.Ticketmaster.com.
Promoted by Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions, in association with Caesars Atlantic City, the Pavlik vs. Hopkins pay-per-view telecast, beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT has a suggested retail price of $49.95, will be produced and distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View and will be available to more than 71 million pay-per-view homes. The telecast will be available in HD-TV for those viewers who can receive HD. HBO Pay-Per-View is the leading supplier of event programming to the pay-per-view industry. For Pavlik vs. Hopkins fight week updates, log onto www.hbo.com
HBO SPORTS TO REPLAY TAYLOR VS. PAVLIK 1 2007 & TARVER VS. HOPKINS 2006
Oct. 10, 2008 – Leading up to the light heavyweight bout between Kelly Pavlik and Bernard Hopkins — set for Saturday, Oct. 18 at Atlantic City and broadcast live on HBO Pay-Per-View– HBO Sports will present the exclusive replay of a career-defining fight in each fighter’s portfolio.
On Friday, Oct. 17 at 11:30 p.m. (ET/PT) and Saturday, Oct. 18 at 9:00 a.m. (ET/PT), HBO2 will replay Taylor vs. Pavlik I 2007 followed immediately by Tarver vs. Hopkins 2006. Both fights took place at the venerable Boardwalk Hall venue in Atlantic City and both fights were career-defining moments for the two winners. Pavlik scored a thrilling seventh-round KO win over middleweight champ Jermain Taylor, while Hopkins put an exclamation point on his distinguished career by jumping up to the light heavyweight ranks and totally dominating Tarver in the 12-round tilt.
The fights will also be available to HBO On Demand subscribers and can be seen 24 hours a day, from Monday, Oct. 13 thru Monday, Oct. 27.
On Saturday, Oct. 18 at 9:00 p.m. ET/ 6:00 p.m. PT, HBO Pay-Per-View will present Pavlik vs. Hopkins live from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ.
Kelly Pavlik Gets National Spotlight
Ohio’s favorite boxer, Kelly Pavlik, will be in the national spotlight next Tuesday night, October 14 when ESPN’s only primetime newsmagazine show, E:60, airs an in depth story on him at 7:00 PM (ET) on ESPN. Reporter Jeremy Schaap spent lots of time with Pavlik and his boxing family and is willing to do interviews with any media who might be interested in hearing about the piece – and things that might not make the final cut due to time restraints.
Here’s a brief overview of the piece:
He is a fighter. He is a hometown hero. In many ways, Middleweight boxing champion Kelly Pavlik is Rocky. Born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio, Pavlik represents hope for his beleaguered city. At one time Youngstown was a bastion of middle class success. The omnipresent steel mills that once served as the nerve center of a booming economy now sit shuttered and still, a reminder of what used to be. E:60 profiles the story of this homegrown champion. It’s the story of a young boy who found his true passion in the sweet science. It’s about a man who trains in the same gym with the same trainer he has used since he was 9-years-old. It’s a story about a working class fighter who boxes much like his beloved hometown, workmanlike, no nonsense; with a steely resolve and a powerful one two punch.
Reporter Jeremy Schaap was granted an all access pass inside Team Pavlik. You will hear from Kelly, his trainer Jack Loew, his father Mike, boxing historian Bert Sugar, and from another Youngstown boxing legend Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini. From his start as a 9-year-old, through his frustrating early pro career in which he contemplated quitting, through his triumphant claiming of the Middleweight crown from Jermain Taylor, E:60 unveils what makes this common man tick.