By James Slater: By the time you read this, former middleweight king Kelly Pavlik could already be in Oxnard, California with new trainer Robert Garcia. According to a news report on MFMJ.com, Pavlik will leave Youngstown behind him as he tries to put his alcohol issues behind him also.
Having parted with long-time trainer Jack Loew, “The Ghost” and his promoters Top Rank are hoping the new location will allow a fresh start. Mike Pavlik, the former champ’s dad, says his son is hoping to get a fight in April or May.
Pavlik, who spent time in rehab earlier last year, but then reportedly had another drink-driving issue where he hit a lamppost just before Christmas, has not boxed since May of 2011. Back then, in moving up to super-middleweight, Pavlik struggled to pound out a majority win over Alfonso Lopez. Still only 29-years-old, Pavlik is, on paper, young enough to be able to come again. However, a number of fans have stated that they have given up on the man who ruled the 160-pound division in 2007 and 2008.
If, and only if, Pavlik has truly beaten his alcohol demons, will the exciting puncher will have a shot at reaching the top again. Beaten, remember, by Bernard Hopkins and Sergio Gabriel Martinez only (both on points), Pavlik, 37-2(32) could conceivably win an alphabelt title under new trainer Garcia. If the hunger is still there, and if Pavlik can keep focused and get a couple of confidence-building, momentum-building wins under his belt, fans just might buy into the idea of him going in with a Robert Stieglitz, a Mikkel Kessler or maybe even a Lucian Bute.
We must see how Pavlik looks in his first fight under Garcia first though – and more importantly we need to see “The Ghost” prove his sobriety.