Considering Sergio Maravilla Martinez spends most of his off-time doing charity, giving speeches, attending socially beneficial events and helping other fighters, maybe he should pay Kelly Pavlik a visit and talk some sense into that troubled head. Kelly is a good kid but also someone who needs guidance otherwise trouble will find him, and he's surrounded either by wrong or just incapable people to keep him away from it. Martinez became inspirational being the exact opposite: a dedicated hard worker in control of his own destiny, overcoming adversity and long, I mean loooooooooong years of bad luck and little hope, moving to one country to another, being avoided, robbed, taking the short money and unfriendly treatment - and during those years he become something more than just an unlucky fighter: an icon how to keep on going when the chips are down. There are real life heroes on this planed in 2011 and Sergio Martinez is one of them. I genuinely think Maravilla could give Kelly some guidelines how to rededicate himself, to forget about the short money and think long term, to separate personal and professional life and to find a positive, progressive environment that is both benefiting his career and his family. They might've fought inside the ring but I'm pretty sure Pavlik wouldn't deny a helping hand, nor that Maravilla would hesitate to give one.
Good post. Many fighters have become friends outside of the ring. I don't see why these two couldn't. Personally, I think that Pavlik is surrounded by enablers. After all, he's the meal ticket for the entire group. Every addict has at least one enabler. The only way to truly get past the addiction is to replace the enabler with someone or something you must be accountable to. Until he does that, he will continue to have difficulties in his life.
Unless Pavlik is fluent in Spanish, a visit from Sergio isn't going to do him much good. Pavlik needed to get out of Youngtown as soon as he beat Taylor. He should have tried to get Steward as a trainer and moved to Florida or Vegas or whatever.
Martinez speaks some English now he's just more comfortable giving interviews in Spanish. Believe me he'd find the words necessary for Kelly.
Hopkins gave advice to Pavlik after they fought, he said "You gotta fight more black" Im 100% sure Martinez can give better advice than that, even if its in fragmented English
I agree. Frankly he's the man in his neighbourhood so everybody there is an enabler. He needs to get himself out of Youngstown.
Martinez is a good guy, but he not a career councilor. Pavliks a grown man if he cant deal with stuff he should see a therapist if he needs, no shame in that.
