Kelly Pavlik has already missed one fight due to a bout with staph infection. He doesnt expect to miss another. Pavlik had surgery on his left hand two weeks ago to clean up some scar tissue stemming from a bout with staph infection last February. His father and co-manager, Mike Pavlik Sr., called it a pinhole cut, and said its not a big issue. It wasnt healing, so they had to go in there and scrape the scar tissue out of it, Mike Sr. said. Its got to heal from the inside out because it was only healing from the outside. Pavlik, who originally suffered the injury while training for his February bout with Marco Antonio Rubio, was scheduled to fight Sergio Mora in late June, but his promoters canceled the bout because his hand had not fully healed. Pavlik said his doctors gave him a clean bill of health, but the problem resurfaced when he resumed training a few weeks ago. I was running and getting ready [to fight] and it kept flaring up, so the doctors said, Hey, lets take care of it, Pavlik said. Its unfortunate I had to get surgery. Pavliks handlers are in negotiations with several fighters for him to fight on Oct. 3 in Atlantic City. HBO is pushing for Pavlik to fight Paul Williams, but negotiations have stalled over money. Pavliks co-manager, Cameron Dunkin, said the surgery will not affect the fight date. No, no, no, said Dunkin. Were fine with the date. Were just waiting on one of the five guys. Pavliks promoters also considered a Sept. 26 date, but have since settled on Oct. 3, Dunkin said. Pavlik generally likes to have eight weeks to train. This Saturday will be eight weeks from Oct. 3. Pavlik Sr. said there is no long-term damage in his sons hand. Theres no problems with the knuckle or the ligaments or tendons, he said. Its just a little cut that would not heal. Hes fine. Theres no damage to anything. Pavlik said hes eager to get back in the ring. Im anxious, he said. I miss the gym. I miss working out. Im ready to get back in there.:good
His last fight was the WBC #1 mandatory challenger, Marco Antonio Rubio 43-3-1 (38 KO's). Before that was Hopkins. Before that was the WBO mandatory. Before that Taylor X 2, and before that Miranda, but ya, I guess Kelly should try to fight better oppositionatsch