Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Posted: 27 Nov 2010, 05:12
From fightfranchise.com:
It has emerged that former middleweight champ Kelly Pavlik has been in rehabilitation since Nov. 4 for alcoholism treatment. Although Pavlik’s father has said he doesn’t know if Pavlik is an alcoholic, he has admitted the Youngstown fighter is dependant on it and is unsure whether his son will ever fight again.
According to Mike Pavlik this is the second time this year Pavlik has been admitted, and the first time, earlier this year, was just prior to his loss to Sergio Martinez, where Pavlik was said to have been released just ten days before the fight after a two-week stay.
Although Pavlik withdrew from his fight with Brian Vera on the Pacquiao-Margarito undercard, his father insists it was the reported rib injury that was the reason, and it was only since then that Kelly has gone off the rails again.
Pavlik has always been associated with a partying lifestyle, but like other fighters before him found nothing but misery. According to father Mike the fame was too much for Kelly, who descended into the state he is now in.
“It’s been ongoing since shortly after he won the title,” said Mike Pavlik.
“I guess what happened is that he was not prepared for what came with the title. Winning the title was one of the greatest moments in his life, but at the same time, it could have been the worst moment in his life. I’m not complaining about him winning the title, but it was instant stardom after that and the demands on his life became so hard and so intense that he couldn’t deal with it.
“The kind of kid Kelly is, he doesn’t want to say no to anyone. It was kind of like the Mickey Mantle syndrome here. Everywhere he went, everyone wanted to buy the champ a beer. He didn’t want to disappoint anyone or say no and it wound up causing him a pretty serious problem.”
It’s a difficult time for Pavlik, who is a husband and a father, but with his warrior spirit he can beat this and at least get his life back even if his fighting career seems in some doubt. Asked if he thought his son would return to the ring, father Mike simply replied “I don’t know if he’ll ever fight again.”
It has emerged that former middleweight champ Kelly Pavlik has been in rehabilitation since Nov. 4 for alcoholism treatment. Although Pavlik’s father has said he doesn’t know if Pavlik is an alcoholic, he has admitted the Youngstown fighter is dependant on it and is unsure whether his son will ever fight again.
According to Mike Pavlik this is the second time this year Pavlik has been admitted, and the first time, earlier this year, was just prior to his loss to Sergio Martinez, where Pavlik was said to have been released just ten days before the fight after a two-week stay.
Although Pavlik withdrew from his fight with Brian Vera on the Pacquiao-Margarito undercard, his father insists it was the reported rib injury that was the reason, and it was only since then that Kelly has gone off the rails again.
Pavlik has always been associated with a partying lifestyle, but like other fighters before him found nothing but misery. According to father Mike the fame was too much for Kelly, who descended into the state he is now in.
“It’s been ongoing since shortly after he won the title,” said Mike Pavlik.
“I guess what happened is that he was not prepared for what came with the title. Winning the title was one of the greatest moments in his life, but at the same time, it could have been the worst moment in his life. I’m not complaining about him winning the title, but it was instant stardom after that and the demands on his life became so hard and so intense that he couldn’t deal with it.
“The kind of kid Kelly is, he doesn’t want to say no to anyone. It was kind of like the Mickey Mantle syndrome here. Everywhere he went, everyone wanted to buy the champ a beer. He didn’t want to disappoint anyone or say no and it wound up causing him a pretty serious problem.”
It’s a difficult time for Pavlik, who is a husband and a father, but with his warrior spirit he can beat this and at least get his life back even if his fighting career seems in some doubt. Asked if he thought his son would return to the ring, father Mike simply replied “I don’t know if he’ll ever fight again.”





