by David P. Greisman

Kelly Pavlik pleaded guilty earlier this week to a charge of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated for an incident dating back to last December, according to the Youngstown (Ohio) Vindicator.

He was sentenced to 12 months of probation, must pay court costs, and must choose between spending three days in jail or instead taking part in a three-day intervention program for people who drove drunk.

Pavlik had turned down a plea deal back in March. A trial had been scheduled for May, but then postponed. This past week was supposed to bring an evidence suppression hearing, but instead Pavlik entered his guilty plea.

The 32-year-old retired last year after a planned fight with Andre Ward was postponed due to Ward suffering an injury in training camp. His last bout was in July 2012, a decision win over Will Rosinsky. That brought his record to 40-2 with 34 knockouts.

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