Loew confirms Pavlik split

TRAINER Jack Loew has worked with former WBC/WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik 37-2 (32) for the past two decades. He has been with “The Ghost” from day one; at the highest and lowest points of his boxing career and day to day life. He developed Pavlik into an undefeated force to be reckoned with at 160 pounds from 2007 to April of 2010, when he met the man currently recognized as middleweight king, Sergio Martinez 48-2-2 (27). True, Pavlik was schooled by the great Bernard Hopkins 52-6-2 (32) during that span, but the fight took place at light heavyweight, new territory for the Youngstown, Ohio native. Even in defeat, Kelly remained king of his division where many would rather not face him after stopping then undefeated Jermain Taylor 28-4-1 (17) and unanimously defeating him in the subsequent rematch.

Since then Pavlik’s life has been in turmoil due to his alcohol addiction. Reports surfaced online of Pavlik being a regular in bars in his home town. He was set to move up to the super middleweight division to face Brian Vera 19-6 (12) as the co-main event to Manny Pacquiao’s 54-3-2 (38) November 2010 destruction of Antonio Margarito 38-8 (27) at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Pavlik withdrew from the bout just weeks before citing a rib injury. Around the same time he checked himself into Betty Ford Center for help with his addiction. Six months later, a rehabilitated Pavlik won a majority decision over then undefeated Alfonzo Lopez 22-1 (17) on the undercard of Pacquiao’s drubbing of Shane Mosley 46-7-1 (39).

After the win over Lopez, Pavlik was slated for a November showdown with undefeated IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute 30-0 (24). The first order of business was supposed to be a matchup with lefty Darryl Cunningham 24-2 (10) this past August in Pavlik’s back yard. However, Pavlik pulled out of the fight roughly one week before the bout. He would later cite money for the Cunningham and Bute bouts were his reason. This most recent boxing news incident seems likely to be the straw that broke the camel’s back.Things have come to a head with Pavlik’s troubled career, and he and Loew have gone their separate ways.

“It’s sad in the way it ended,” stated Loew on Friday in an interview with a local news station. “When you can’t control a fighter outside of the ring, it’s time to walk away. I have no control of Kelly outside of the ring anymore and I refuse to take the heat for things I can’t control. I have no desire to work with Kelly Pavlik anymore.  I wish him the best. If he goes to California and becomes the world champion again, then God bless him. We have fond memories.”

Lopez was Pavlik’s latest test back in May. The split with Loew will surely further delay his ring return. Hopefully he can find a suitable replacement and get back on track.