Kelly Pavlik stopped US compatriot Miguel Espino in the fifth round on Saturday to defend his WBC and WBO middleweight titles, ending a difficult year on a high note.
After a 10-month layoff because of an infection on his left hand, Pavlik dropped Espino to a knee in the fourth round with staggering right uppcercuts. Pavlik knocked Espino down again in the fifth and referee Steve Smoger stepped in at 1:44 into the round.
It was Pavlik’s third successful defense of the two belts, which he won against Jermain Taylor in 2007. Pavlik hadn’t fought since a defense against Marco Antonio Rubio in February.
PHOTO: AFP
Espino was rated the No. 3 contender by the WBC, though few gave the Californian much of a chance in his first tilt at a major title.
He was deducted a point for punching after the bell following the first round, then was warned in the second and third for repeated low blows.
Pavlik will now turn his attention to Paul Williams, whom he was supposed to fight on Oct. 3. The infection postponed the fight until Dec. 5, and it was canceled when Pavlik realized he still couldn’t make a fist with his injured left hand.
Williams decided to fight Sergio Martinez on that date instead.
Pavlik said Williams is now the priority, but if another deal can’t be reached, he would like to fight WBA middleweight champion Felix Sturm.
“Sturm is right on top of the list,” Arum said.
Referee Jimmy Villers collapsed on his way to the locker room after the bout on the undercard of Pavlik’s defense.
Villers had just officiated Miguel Angel Garcia’s featherweight victory against Yogli Herrera at the Beeghly Center when he collapsed with what appeared to be a heart attack.
Medical personnel used a defibrillator and strapped oxygen to his face, and Villers was awake and alert when he was placed on a stretcher and taken to the hospital.
A cardiologist sitting near the ring helped take care of Villers, a former boxer.
Twelve days after winning her second Grand Slam title at the French Open, Coco Gauff fell at the first hurdle on grass in Berlin on Thursday as beaten Paris finalist Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the quarter-finals. Recipient of a first round bye, American Gauff lost 6-3, 6-3 to Chinese qualifier Wang Xinyu as world number one Sabalenka beat Rebeka Masarova 6-2, 7-6 (8/6) in her second round tie. Winner of 10 main tour titles, including the US Open in 2023 and the WTA Finals last year, Gauff has yet to lift a trophy in a grass-court tournament. “After I won the first
Aaron Civale got a little wild in the right-hander’s first start for the Chicago White Sox two days after he was traded by the Milwaukee Brewers. Civale on Sunday walked four of the first seven hitters he faced in a 2-1 loss to the Texas Rangers. The 30-year-old finished with four walks, one off his career high, while allowing six hits and two runs in five innings. He threw 65 strikes and 39 balls. Chicago trailed 2-1 when he was replaced by Dan Altavilla to start the sixth. “Not the cleanest,” Civale said. “It’s been a whirlwind of a week. First couple
Sergio Ramos on Tuesday outfoxed two Inter players and artfully headed home the first goal for Monterrey at the FIFA Club World Cup. The 39-year-old Ramos slipped through the penalty area for the score just as he did for so many years in the shirts of Real Madrid and Spain’s national team, with whom he combined smarts, timing and physicality. Ramos’ clever goal and his overall defensive play at the Rose Bowl were major factors in Monterrey’s impressive 1-1 draw against the UEFA Champions League finalists in the clubs’ first match of the tournament. “There is always a joy to contribute to the
DOMINANT JUVENTUS: Randal Kolo Muani and Francisco Conceicao both scored braces as Juventus made a statement in their opener with a big win over Al-Ain Phil Foden on Wednesday scored two minutes into the match and later had an assist to lead Premier League powerhouse Manchester City past Moroccan club Wydad AC 2-0 at the FIFA Club World Cup. City broke Wydad’s five-man defensive line early when Foden scored on a deflected cross by goalkeeper El Mehdi Benabid. Jeremy Doku doubled City’s lead in the 42nd minute off a corner-kick from Foden. Shortly afterward, an animal-rights advocate ran onto the field to protest Morocco’s treatment of stray dogs and cats. The man was tackled by security workers and escorted out of Lincoln Financial Field, which was just over
RSS