Former champ Pavlik pulls out of fight, boxing career in limbo

Kelly Pavlik apparently has had enough of boxing.

The former world middleweight champion has pulled out of his Showtime-televised super middleweight fight Saturday against Darryl Cunningham in Pavlik's hometown of Youngstown, Ohio.

Pavlik, in the midst of a comeback after two months of treatment for alcoholism last winter at the Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage, Calif., told manager Cameron Dunkin he didn't want to fight anymore.

"He said to me, 'We have a problem,' " Dunkin said Tuesday. "He said, 'I don't want to do this anymore.' "

Dunkin said he was stunned.

"I don't think anyone saw this coming," he said. "I'm just lost right now. I don't know why Kelly decided to do what he did. But it's his call. He's going to do what he has to do. I'm not going to try to talk him out of anything, especially when his heart's not in it."

Dunkin said he's positive Pavlik did not have a relapse in his battle against alcoholism.

"I don't think drinking had anything to do with it," he said. "I know when he's been drinking, and when I talked to him he sounded clear and coherent."

Pavlik, 29, returned to the ring May 7 at the MGM Grand Garden, winning a 10-round majority decision over Alfonso Lopez.

Fighting at 169 pounds, he didn't look sharp.

But because he hadn't fought in
13 months, after losing his WBC and WBO middleweight belts to Sergio Martinez on April 17, 2010, many in boxing attributed the subpar performance to ring rust.

Last week, Pavlik (37-2 32 knockouts) said he was looking forward to fighting full time as a super middleweight, beating Cunningham and fighting for a world title, possibly against IBF champion Lucian Bute.

But on Monday, he apparently did not show up to run and never made it to the gym before resurfacing late that night.

His decision staggered his promoter, Top Rank, and forced cancellation of the entire card at the Covelli Centre.

"Top Rank is very disappointed at Kelly's sudden decision to discontinue the rebuilding of his boxing career," Top Rank president Todd duBoef said in a statement. "Kelly's team specifically outlined a strategy for Kelly to return to the ring in an effective fashion. ... It seems Kelly has derailed this plan."

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.