By Mike Coppinger

BoxingScene.com has been advised by manager Cameron Dunkin that former middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik (37-2, 32KOs) will be working with sports and nutrition guru Victor Conte, as he works his way back after a long layoff.

According to Dunkin, Pavlik will be returning in 2012 and his weight class is yet to be determined, pending an evaluation by Conte.

Conte currently works with Nonito Donaire, Zab Judah and Andre Berto, among others.

Responding to a report on ESPN.com that Robert Garcia would be training Pavlik upon his return to the ring, Garcia refuted the story, saying it was the first he had heard of it.

"I saw him earlier in the hotel and we walked by each other, he doesn't even know who I am," Garcia said to BoxngScene.com. "I know who he is, but he doesn't who I am."

Garcia, however, is open to the idea of training the former lineal middleweight king.

"I would love to train him though, he would try hard, he has a lot of potential," Garcia said. "I know he's gone through some bad moments, but he's only 28, 29, I believe. He still has time to come back and join the game."

Dunkin is confident they can make a deal for Pavlik to be trained by Garcia, leaving Jack Loew.

"I have an open thing with Robert," Dunkin said. "He trained Steven Luevano for me. He trains Mikey [Garcia] and Brandon Rios for me. He trains just about all my guys. I ask if I can bring other guys to him, and he said he's always open to it. I'm sure he'll accept it."