There’s no place like home away from home for Kelly Pavlik.
The defending World middleweight champion returns to Atlantic City, where he has become a major attraction over the course of his title reign, now creeping up on 30 months. Awaiting him was a lively crowd on hand at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, where he and challenger Sergio Martinez both made weight for their title fight Saturday night.
Both fighters weighed in just under the middleweight limit at 159.5, for their main event, which will air live on HBO (Saturday, 10PM ET/7PM PT). Martinez, fighting at middleweight for the second straight time after having established himself as a top junior middleweight, was absolutely shredded, while Pavlik’s frame was long and lean.
Chants of “Kelly!” filled the hotel lobby upon announcement of his making weight, with thousands of fans making the trip from Pavlik’s hometown of Youngstown, Ohio.
Pavlik (36-1, 32KO) makes the fourth title defense of what has been a frustrating reign that has been plagued by injuries and inadequate challenges.
All four of his title fights have ended in knockout, including his off-the-canvas title winning effort against Jermain Taylor in this very same arena in September 2007. The bout was hailed by many as one of the best of 2007, but subsequent knockout wins over Gary Lockett, Marco Antonio Rubio and Miguel Espino hardly left an impression on a boxing public.
Wedged in between the aforementioned defenses were non-title catchweight bouts producing very different results. Pavlik scored a repeat win over Taylor in February 2008, but was extended the distance to end a nine-fight knockout streak.
Eight months and two fights later, Pavlik suffered the first loss of his career, as he was manhandled by future Hall-of-Famer and former middleweight king Bernard Hopkins.
The bout marked Pavlik’s last trip to Atlantic City, with both of his fights in 2009 taking place in Youngstown. An attempt was made last year to return to the strip, but a staph infection twice postponed and ultimately canceled his proposed title defense against Paul Williams.
It was Pavlik’s injury that indirectly helped thrust Martinez (44-2-2, 24KO) into the middleweight title picture.
The Argentinean southpaw spent most of his career at welterweight and junior middleweight, but agreed to move up in weight when Williams was searching for a new opponent for his HBO date last December.
What followed was one of the best fights of 2009, with Williams and Martinez trading knockdowns early and leather throughout. What many saw as a close fight that could’ve went either way turned into a strangely scored majority decision loss for Martinez, ending both a 29-fight unbeaten streak.
It also capped what was a frustrating campaign last year. Many contend that Martinez should’ve won both of his fights in ‘09, but instead ended the year 0-1-1. Ten months prior to the close, debatable loss to Williams came a highly controversial draw against Kermit Cintron, a fight in which Martinez appeared to have knocked him out, and generally controlled the action throughout, only for neither fighter’s arm raised in victory in the end.
The interesting clash of styles for this bout has many people thinking upset, or at the very least a frustrating night at the office for Pavlik.
Ignored is the considerable size advantage and the fact that Pavlik has spent nearly his entire career 10-year career at or above the middleweight limit, although the always chiseled Martinez appeared to fill into the weight just fine on Friday.
Pavlik was his usual lean self in making weight on the first try, despite whispers that he was considerably over the limit as recent as midway through the week. One report had him close to seven pounds over the limit a couple of days ago, although he and his camp claimed he was right on target.
That he successfully made weight suggests he was correct. It was also cause for his fans to erupt in celebration, more than 30 hours prior to middleweight title fight. The raucous crowd chanting his name in unison had to feel good for the defending champion, who has been long overdue for a morale booster.
Returning to Atlantic City for the fourth time provided just that. There is still the pesky matter of actually winning Saturday’s fight, but the message has been sent loud and clear that Kelly Pavlik remains the town’s favorite adopted son.
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com and an award-winning member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Contact Jake at JakeNDaBox@gmail.com.
Jake Donovan is an award-winning journalist who served as senior writer for BoxingScene from 2007-2024, and news editor for the final nine years of his first tour. He was also the lead writer for The Ring before his decision to return home.
