ldquoBoxing is what Irsquove been doing since I was eight years old

Mediocre reception levels, and no TDs since week six, have me benching Shockey everywhere.. The Ring Magazine, WBC and WBO middleweight champion Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik will fight Miguel Espino Saturday night at the Beeghly Center on the campus of Youngstown State University. Pavlik (35-1, 31 KOs) was originally scheduled to defend his titles versus Paul “The Punisher” Williams (38-1, 27 KOs). Unfortunately, a stubborn staph infection in Pavlik’s left hand caused him to twice postpone his slated bouts with Williams.

Williams, 28, a southpaw often considered the most “avoided fighter in the world,” grew frustrated with Pavlik’s cancellations and he instead fought Sergio Gabriel Martinez (44-2-2, 24 KOs) on Dec 5. In a rugged and exciting battle, Williams was awarded a narrow majority decision victory over the 34-year-old Martinez. After undergoing two major surgeries on his bummed paw, Pavlik intended to rest for the remainder of this year so that it would entirely heal. However, Pavlik’s advisors warned him that the sanctioning bodies could strip him of his titles if he didn’t defend them. I miss it,” said Pavlik, 27, whose only loss came at the hands of the legendary Bernard Hopkins last October.

“Boxing is what I’ve been doing since I was eight years old. When I take this time that I had off, I definitely got the hunger back.” Espino, 29, who was raised in the seedy underbelly of North Hollywood, California, said he is “grateful and humbled” to have the opportunity to scrap Pavlik for his crowns. Am I going there to win Absolutely.” Pavlik is a flawed pugilist and his prolonged injury is genuinely worrisome. Even more concerning, baseless rumors have persisted that Pavlik is battling drug and alcohol issues that have crippled his workout routines and overall maturation as a fighter. “It didn’t really affect me,” Pavlik claimed “At the end of the day, I feel good I know what I have accomplished.