Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik continues on the comeback.
On Saturday night in San Antonio, Texas, Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik (38-2, 33 KO’s), under new trainer Robert Garcia, TKO’d Aaron Jaco (15-3, 5 KO’s) in the second round. This was only the second fight for Pavlik, since losing his WBC and WBO middleweight crowns to Sergio Martinez back in April of 2010. Ever since that loss, Pavlik has had problems overcoming alcohol issues, postponing fights and rehab.
In 2007 Pavlik shocked the world and knocked out Jermain Taylor (29-4, 18KO’s), the fastest rising star at the time and took his WBC and WBO middleweight belts from him. In the rematch, Pavlik was able to defend his new titles and he won by a unanimous decision and Taylor is now on his own comeback. [Taylor is scheduled to fight on April 20th of 2012].
With these two wins, a new trainer, and moving from Youngstown Ohio to Southern California, Pavlik is off to a good start. The power in his punches that Jaco felt are a good sign of how Pavlik first won his middleweight crowns. If he is to continue his comeback to the middleweight division contenders, he must go back to the heavy hand punching that he possessed in 2007. He must also get back to a strong 159 pounds when he fought his first fight against Taylor, as opposed to coming in at a catch weight of 170 lbs. as he just did against Jaco. According to Pavlik, he said “I was calm, relaxed, had good energy, bounce — everything was working.” Pavlik is scheduled to be back in the ring around June of this year and probably on ESPN Friday Night Fights.
Andy “the Destroyer” Ruiz, Jr. wins again in Tucson, Arizona.
Heavyweight Andy “the Destroyer” Ruiz, Jr. (14-0, 8KO’s) put another win on his undefeated record last week when he defeated Homero Fonseca (9-5-3, 2KO’s). This 22 year old heavyweight from Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico continues to impress Top Rank. He trained under Freddie Roach for two years and is now being trained by Miguel Diaz and Richie Sandoval. In a couple of years or sooner, he could be a threat in the heavyweight division.
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