Pavlik-Hopkins Philly Presser!

August 5, 2008

By Rick Scharmberg

Photos: Rick Scharmberg

A news conference was held today at Chickie and Pete’s sports bar in south Philadelphia today to formally announce the Saturday, October 18 light heavyweight bout between former two-division world champion Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins and reigning world middleweight champion Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik. Hopkins, of Philadelphia, PA and Pavlik, of Youngstown, OH will fight at a catch-weight of 170 pounds. The bout, which is being presented by Top Rank and Golden Boy, in association with Caesars Atlantic City, will be televised live on HBO Pay-Per-View.

Todd DuBoef, President of Top Rank Inc., opened the news conference with an introduction. “We are proud to bring to you a great fight featuring two great fighters, the young lion, undefeated middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik from Youngstown, Ohio, and a legend, your legend from Philadelphia, Bernard Hopkins.”

Ken Condon, representing Caesars Atlantic City, stepped up to thank everyone involved in making this fight happen, and hyped the fight by stating that tickets are expected to go fast.

Mark Taffet, of HBO, spoke next. He said, “Kelly Pavlik is building the young fan base that the sport needs. Kelly always wants the biggest challenge out there, and he is taking on a legend. That is a heck of a test. I’d like to thank Kelly Pavlik. He didn’t have to take this fight, but he did.

“On the other side of the dais is a first ballot hall-of-famer, Bernard Hopkins. Like Kelly, Bernard always wants the biggest challenge. He is taking on an undefeated KO artist in Kelly Pavlik. This will be a great fight. Will Bernard Hopkins be the fighter to derail the man who is Kelly Pavlik?”

Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, introduced Hopkins’ longtime trainer, Nazim Richardson. Nazim said, “I appreciate Kelly Pavlik’s stride, and how he has come along as a fighter. People think he is new to Philly, but I know he’s been here in Philadelphia as an amateur. Bernard was getting ready for Simon Brown. He is no surprise to us, and we know we have to work hard. People overlook his skills because of his power. We have our work cut out for us.”

Richard Schaefer then introduced his fighter, Bernard Hopkins, as “The Ghostbuster”.

Hopkins took the dais, and immediately compared himself with another legend in the final phase of a great career, pro football’s Brett Favre. “As I look at the TV, I see an old dog named Brett Favre, who, like me, still got swagger at 40. I am not the only one still standing. Don’t look for me to retire. I have a long distance deal with Brett Favre. I’ll retire when Brett Favre retires,” he joked. “Now let’s talk about boxing.”

“I this fight, we have two blue collar guys, two construction workers fighting for a sandwich after 9 hours of work. I respect what this guy [Pavlik] has done. He is my successor, and he got it [the middleweight title] the old fashioned way like I did. But I have to do my job. I am not afraid of a ghost,” he said.

“This is a hurt business, and I’ve been successful at it for 20 years. I have confidence from my last fight. But I lost, you say. People just said I lost. I am coming in with a controlled anger and confidence. Yesterday is in the past. I am not showing my age. I am a seasoned veteran who has fought every style, and has a plan to take the other guy’s best weapon and use it against him.”

Hopkins then referred to his 2001 stoppage of then-undefeated Felix Trinidad as an example. “Everyone said I was in with a killer. They were saying “left hook, left hook, left hook”, but I showed him my right hand.”

He continued, “Pavlik is known for having a great right hand, but I have one of the best defenses in the sport. The name of the game is to take what he does best and use it against him. That’s what I do best.”

Bernard then made a brief hint at retirement. “Atlantic City has been good to me. If this is my last visit, on my terms – not Kelly Pavlik’s terms, I want to put on a great fight. I am looking for Kelly Pavlik to bring his A-game. I want to fight him at his best. At the end of the day, whoever has the best game plan will win the fight.”

Todd DuBoef then introduced Kelly’s father, Mike Pavlik, and called his trainer Jack Loew to the dais.

Loew praised Hopkins, stating, “Bernard Hopkins didn’t have to take this fight, but he did. I expect him to be fully prepared. Bernard proved himself with slappy Joe [Calzaghe]. I thought he won. He has a win over Winky Wright, and has had two close fights with Jermain Taylor. We know he will be fully prepared.

DuBoef then invited Kelly Pavlik to speak.

“People asked me why I took this fight, and why fight at 170. I wanted to fight the best. I wanted to fight Calzaghe, supposedly the best fighter pound-for-pound, but there is no way we could get him. Then someone mentioned Bernard Hopkins. We train the same way for every fight. I need to be at my best, and I expect a tough fight. It is a pleasure to be in the ring with Bernard Hopkins,” he said.

“He came up the same way as me. We both fought our way up. I knocked out tough Jose Luis Zertuche and Edison Miranda. I took chances and beat Miranda. I fought Jermain Taylor with no tune-up fight, and then I fought him a second time. It was a hard road.”

Answering the question why he elected to take this fight at 170 pounds, Pavlik said, “There was no one else to fight. Calzaghe won’t fight. That [Hopkins] was the only fight I had. He couldn’t weight 160, so we’re fighting at 170. I’m 6’2” and I walk around at 176. I have to lose weight to make this weight. My punches have more snap on them at this weight, and I’m not drained.”

“A win is a win,” stated Pavlik, when asked about pressure to look good. “A win over Bernard Hopkins is great. There is no pressure on me no matter how it turns out. Boxing was down a little, and this fight is a great fight for boxing, like Margarito-Cotto was. This is what boxing needs.”