BOXING

Undisputed Devotion

---

Kelly Pavlik is perfectly happy with his small-town trainer.
By Tim Struby

On Sept. 29, 2007, Kelly "The Ghost" Pavlik's pounding of then-middleweight champ Jermain Taylor wasn't the night's only upset. Pavlik's trainer, Jack Loew, was also a surprise winner in an ongoing battle that has become its own main event: old faithful trainer vs. trainer to the stars.

Loew and Pavlik grew up together in Youngstown, Ohio, and Loew has called the shots since the power puncher was a young buck. Before that Taylor fight, Loew, a driveway sealer by day, had never held pads for a contender, let alone helped build a champion.

In the other corner that night was Emanuel Steward, who has taken more than two dozen fighters to world titles in a storied career. Taylor's management had recommended the firing of longtime trainer Pat Burns in favor of Steward before a June 2006 bout with Winky Wright. The results have been mixed: a pair of lackluster wins, a draw and a loss. (Pavlik also won the rematch with Taylor and is 33–0.) "Musical trainers is a familiar story in boxing," says Showtime analyst Al Bernstein. "People start to whisper in a fighter's ear about changing, and they often do. But for the most part, it's a mistake."

These days, though, more boxers are remaining loyal. After a loss to Floyd Mayweather, Ricky "The Hit Man" Hatton rebuffed calls to dump longtime trainer Billy Graham. Despite limited experience, Enzo Calzaghe has the unyielding trust of his super middleweight sensation son, Joe. And No. 1 WBC contender Andre Berto has made it clear that he won't split with virtual unknown Tony Morgan.

"I never thought of getting rid of Jack," says Pavlik, in camp for a June 7 date vs. Gary Lockett (30–1). "He knows what to say when I'm hurt and when I need to get motivated. With a new trainer, it's like starting all over again. Why change?" Good question.

Tuf Choice

---

By Michael Woods

In the brief history of organized MMA, Jake Rosholt just might be the hottest prospect the sport has ever seen. The former three-time NCAA wrestling champ from Oklahoma State has a 4–0 record since he turned pro a year ago—and fans in high places. "He's the real deal," says UFC president Dana White.

When the UFC recently knocked on Rosholt's door with an invitation to join the hit reality show The Ultimate Fighter, the 25-year-old up-and-comer looked to be on the fast track to stardom. The seventh season of TUF had just debuted before its usual million-plus weekly audience, brandishing its record of producing MMA luminaries (Forrest Griffin, Rashad Evans). Rosholt would arrive as the odds-on favorite and net a three-year deal with the UFC if he won.

Why, then, did Rosholt not jump at the tempting offer? Because the next season of TUF will feature 205-pounders, and an early loss to any one of those heftier fighters could put an instant damper on a 185-pounder's building buzz (not to mention his potential income). In the UFC, TV ratings are made on matchups between fighters with unblemished records; a zero in the loss column means extra zeroes on the paycheck.

There is a longer, if less risky, route to the top ranks. That's through the lower MMA levels, where fighters have more control over whom they fight and more opportunities to sharpen raw skills, of which Rosholt has plenty.

So after weighing his options, the MMA's next big thing opted to take the old-fashioned route. "I think the opportunity with the UFC will come down the road," Rosholt says.
There's a lot more history to be written.

Print Article . Email Article. Subscribe to The Magazine