I have about 24 of Pavlik's fights on DVD and have of course watched all of his fights over the few years live , and I am a big fan. I never was someone stating how he is a future ATG or top 5 P4P , I just always liked his style and attitude. I mean how can't you like a boxer who throws a lot of punches, doesn't clinch much, and impressively knocks people out? Try naming some pavlik fights that were not exciting. Anyways, I was watching some of his old fights... and I swear to god, almost every single time they show his corner in between rounds, and against tons of different opponents .... the only thing Loew ever tells Pavlik is " You gotta stick to that double ****ing jab " I have heard him say that in these fights like 30 times..... Even against Hopkins, he didn't change the gameplan even after he saw that clearly hopkins was timing his jab and countering... He didn't tell Pavlik anything other than " Keep throwing that double jab!!!! " If this is how basic his teaching is during a fight, then I am assuming he is not working on anything new with Pavlik between fights. I think Pavlik has done great considering how he has been trained.... With his stamina , heart, chin and Power .... A great HoF trainer might be able to actually teach him a few things about Defense, footwork and ring smarts and really improve him as a fighter.... I am not saying a Emmanuel Steward or a Freddie Roach would make him all that much better, but it couldn't make him any worse than " Throw that double ****ing Jab!!! " I am also not trying to make excuses , I think Pavlik would have lost to Hopkins no matter who was in the corner with him.
I like the concept of being loyal to your guy but Loew has taken Kelly as far as he can. Kelly is a world class fighter and needs a world class trainer.
Pavlik's style isn't likely to change a whole lot even if he did make a switch at trainer imo. He's not going to be a great defensive fighter with his offense first mentality. And there are very few fighters that can make you miss consistently and make you pay like B-Hop, plus nobody expected that kind of vintage performance from him where he threw a decent number of punches every round. Loew isn't the greatest trainer but I don't think Pavlik should drop him yet off one bad night against a guy nobody looks good against even in victory.
I had a feeling Pavlik was not happy with all of Loew's talking leading up to the fight with Hopkins. Between rounds Pavlik seemed disinterested with what he had to say from the start. Loew is limited. He can't teach Pavlik much more. Also I didn't like it when Loew told Pavlik to hit Hopkins in the balls during the fight.
If he wants to continue his career at world level he needs someone with more insight on what to do if the fight isn't going to plan. Loew showed in the hopkins fight that his limited into his fight plans. Pavliks power has got him to where he is right now but when you come up against fighters that simply don't fall from the power shots, strategy must come into play.
I think he should keep him around. Maybe not as head trainer but kind of how JT kept Odzell around when manny was the main guy. Gotta stay loyal to your famly.
throwing the double jab was not the bad idea vs Hopkins. Walking him down was. Pavlik could've tried to keep some range against Hopkins and kept firing off that jab and double jab and he would've had more success. Instead by trying to walk down Hopkins and tire him, Pavlik played right into his hands. Hopkins was able to time his jab and his footwork and was always in range to counter and clinch or catch him off guard and then smother Pavlik. Worst. Strategy. Ever. "We're gonna walk him down and knock him out" Who? Hopkins? stfu! Anyways, yes, get rid of him. Loew is all wrong for the bigtime fighters not just in his strategies but also in his off ring antics. No, you are no longer some Youngstown joe schmo working hard to fight his way out of poverty. You are an elite fighter making millions of dollars and ****ing with the best in the world. Act accordingly.
Jerome "Doc" Louis, a former heavyweight champion is a world class trainer. He brought little mac to the top. Mac even beat a prime Tyson and he only weighed 107 lbs.
yeah...but tyson was out of his prime:deal Mac barely made it past sand man...and his chin was exposed HARD against king hippo
I'd do the same completely getting rid of the guy and risk being on bad terms would effect him mentally. He needs to stay offensive minded just more versatile I wouldn't focus on being too much of a defensive wiz.