Hopkins: Pavlik 'needs a person like me'

1stcontact · Aug 3, 2011

HOPKINS: PAVLIK 'NEEDS A PERSON LIKE ME'
by Lem Satterfield
Aug 3rd, 2011

Moments after handing Kelly Pavlik the first setback of his career in October 2008, Bernard Hopkins lectured and consoled his dejected opponent in the ring.

"I said to him, 'Don't let this destroy you,'" said the 46-year-old Hopkins in an interview with RingTV.com on Thursday. 'Because if you don't say that you're going to come back from this, I'm going to come and find you and whoop your ass.'"

It appears that the 29-year-old Pavlik (37-2, 32 knockouts) could use a good spanking from an elder right about now, when Pavlik's behavior could be ruining his career.

On Tuesday, Pavlik pulled out of Saturday's fight against Darryl Cunningham on Showtime, citing his unhappiness with the offer he received from Top Rank to face Cunningham and then IBF super middleweight titleholder Lucian Bute in November.

Pavliks move forced Showtime to cancel the entire card, which was slated to take place in Pavlik's hometown of Youngstown, Ohio, and angered everyone involved -- network officials, Top Rank chief Bob Arum, manager Cameron Dunkin and trainer Jack Loew.

Arum said that Pavlik was to make at least $50,000 for fighting Cunningham and, if triumphant, a minimum of $1.35 million to fight Bute as part of a 60-40 split in favor of Bute and his promoter Jean Bedard.

Now Pavlik has nothing in the works and his reputation is taking public beating. Hopkins said he would offer counsel at Pavlik's request.

"This wouldn't be about him pulling out of the fight or anything else like that. I don't care about that mess. But I just know that if Kelly Pavlik was to reach out to Bernard Hopkins, I would do it next month. I would do it tomorrow," said Hopkins.

"If I could talk to Kelly Pavlik for one day, or even a couple of hours, I think that I could reach him. I think that he can still be a dominant force, if not, a champion of the world once again -- way before this year is out, if not by early 2012."

Hopkins wouldn't reveal much of what the conversation might consist of but said he he has no ulterior motive.

"I am sure that the entire boxing world would be panicking, but it wouldn't be nothing related to tortious interference or anything like that," said Hopkins.

"This ain't no fighter to a manager, and I'm not trying to be his promoter. I don't want to promote him or be his manager. But I have the right to talk to him, fighter to fighter, and he has the right to seek that out."

Hopkins said that he would be available following the defense of his RING and WBC light heavyweight belts against Chad Dawson on Oct. 15 at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

"Listen, man, Kelly Pavlik could come to my next fight. I would get him there. Kelly could watch me do my thing, then, I could do it after the fight," said Hopkins. "I think that Kelly needs a person like me to be able to tell him again what I told him in that ring."

Pavlik was the WBO and WBC middleweight beltholder when Hopkins outpointed him by scores of 118-108, 117-109 and 116-109 at a catch weight of 170 pounds.

Hopkins' victory had come over a man who had twice beaten the same Jermain Taylor who had twice defeated Hopkins. Taylor's second win over Hopkins ended his run of consecutive middleweight defenses at 20 by split decision in July of 2005.

"I gave Kelly Pavlik a lecture after the fight when I could have been jumping on top of the ropes and celebrating. But for me, it was important to use that time to focus on Kelly Pavlik, and it wasn't for show," said Hopkins.

"Michael Jordan has grabbed many players and looked at them and given them the motivation that they've needed after a loss. So that's the least that I can do when you see a potential star somehow hit a roadblock, and that's what I chose to do at that particular time."

Since their meeting, however, Hopkins' career has risen while Pavlik's has been on a downward spiral.

Pavlik had scored two straight knockouts after losing to Hopkins, but then cited a staph infection in his hand for twice pulling out of scheduled match ups with Paul Williams. In April of 2010, Pavlik was dethroned as WBO and WBC middleweight titleholder by Sergio Martinez.

Pavlik cited a rib injury as his reason for pulling out of a scheduled bout with Bryan Vera, which was scheduled for the Manny Pacquiao-Antonio Margarito undercard on Nov. 13.

Later that month, Pavlik entered the Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage, Calif., for treatment of a drinking problem.

In May, Hopkins dethroned Jean Pascal by unanimous decision, becoming the oldest fighter in the history of the sport to win a significant world title.

"You know, I've been counted out so many times in my career. But just as people have counted me out and I've come back, I know that it's not over for Kelly Pavlik. I just don't want to see this guy throw his talent away because of the way he feels that he's been treated," said Hopkins.

"But I'm telling you right now that Kelly Pavlik is either on the brink of being somebody that could be great, or he could wind up being somebody who falls to the wayside. I would just like the opportunity to re-affirm to him what I said to him in the ring that night."
Click to expand...

http://ringtv.craveonline.com/blog/168363-hopkins-pavlik-needs-a-person-like-me

dftaylor · Aug 3, 2011

Bernard = legend!

cheekyvid · Aug 3, 2011

you know he could well do with that advice but whether he truly takes it fully onboard and accepts it is another matter.

IMO pavlik needs broken down totally and to start again, as a man, as a person, make a fresh start somehow, hes still young enough, just

Joan_Guzman · Aug 3, 2011

Hopkins would be an awesome coach

achillesthegreat · Aug 3, 2011

One thing Bernard has is a hell of alot of experience and he knows how to articulate himself unlike someone like Lennox Lewis who has been involved in all the highs and lows of boxing but is effectively useless in sharing his deep knowledge.

Claypole · Aug 3, 2011

$50,000 to fight Cunningham? That doesn't sound a lot for a fighter of Pavlik's status to be honest. By the time he's paid all his expenses, tax, etc I can't imagine he'd have much left over.

Nice stuff from Hopkins, though. I've always though of him as a bit of a twat, but he does seem a genuine nice guy.

unorthodox · Aug 4, 2011

i ****ing love hopkins

roe · Aug 4, 2011

Just imagine if Bernard was somehow able to help Pavlik rebuild and become a genuine world champion again. He'd be the first person in history to completely ruin someone's career then build it back himself.

Let's Boogie! · Aug 4, 2011

Pavlik should go with old man Hopkins. What a legend!

Will · Aug 4, 2011

Claypole said: ↑

$50,000 to fight Cunningham? That doesn't sound a lot for a fighter of Pavlik's status to be honest. By the time he's paid all his expenses, tax, etc I can't imagine he'd have much left over.

Nice stuff from Hopkins, though. I've always though of him as a bit of a twat, but he does seem a genuine nice guy.
Click to expand...

Spot on!!!

GazOC · Aug 4, 2011

Stick a fork in Pavlik.

Mandanda · Aug 4, 2011

Bernard was once asked about becoming a coach and he said ''no Naazim said no way. Guys wouldn't have no confidence because of standards you expect'' something along them lines. I think he would love to try it but i get impression Pavlik isn't type to listen to a guy like Hopkins.

I think Bernard's wisdom would rub off on many young fighters but Pavlik's lost the hunger and desire and i think as Gaz says...stick a fork in him.

MagicMan91 · Aug 4, 2011

Pavlik would probably **** Hopkins off some way and get his ass beat again. Bad idea

WalletInspector · Aug 4, 2011

Mandanda said: ↑

Bernard was once asked about becoming a coach and he said ''no Naazim said no way. Guys wouldn't have no confidence because of standards you expect'' something along them lines. I think he would love to try it but i get impression Pavlik isn't type to listen to a guy like Hopkins.

I think Bernard's wisdom would rub off on many young fighters but Pavlik's lost the hunger and desire and i think as Gaz says...stick a fork in him.
Click to expand...

Courtesy of Doug.ie :good:

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xT4bK4Xwovc[/ame]

Mandanda · Aug 4, 2011

WalletInspector said: ↑

Courtesy of Doug.ie :good:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xT4bK4Xwovc
Click to expand...

:good Nice one Wallet.

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Hopkins: Pavlik 'needs a person like me'

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