Why Kelly Pavlik’s underrated boxing career deserves more love

By Arslan Saleem August 04, 2022 02:58

Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Kelly Pavlik is arguably one of the most underrated and under-appreciated boxers of all time. Despite having a prolific career inside the ring, he is still not a household name like most of his contemporaries. It’s a damn shame. In his prime, Kelly Pavlik was arguably one of the greatest boxers in the world.

His career record and incredible resume speak for themselves. Kelly Pavlik, now a Fan Arch athlete, won the unified WBC, WBO, Ring Magazine, and lineal middleweight titles by beating Jermain Taylor in 2007. He also successfully defended his title three times.

Kelly Pavlik has 42 fights under his belt, notching an impressive career record of 40 wins (34 via KO) and only two losses. He also never got finished, as two of his losses came via decision against legends Bernard Hopkins and Sergio Martinez.

“The Ghost” brought a chaotic but exciting brand of boxing, knocking out opponents left and right on his way to the top. The American brawler of Slovak descent went undefeated in his first 34 pro bouts before that fight with Hopkins.

The Youngstown, Ohio-native’s career highlight, of course, is beating Jermain Taylor not once but twice to become the undisputed, undefeated middleweight champion of the world.

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Kelly Pavlik was an incredible talent in his heyday and was always a treat to watch for his fans. Win or lose, he always put up exciting fights. Fan Arch’s amazing collection of Kelly Pavlik merchandise and memorabilia will help you relive his glory days in the ring. We have tons of cool stuff, including this limited edition Kelly Pavlik-signed card.

Our “Ghost” hoodies also pack quite a punch. Check them out on the Fan Arch’s website.

Kelly Pavlik was a natural-born fighter and he displayed that hunger each time he stepped foot in the ring. The former middleweight kingpin complimented his destructive power with an insane motor. Kelly Pavlik always moved forward and always kept coming, which is why he was never in a boring fight.

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It came as a surprise when Kelly Pavlik announced his retirement from boxing in 2013. After all, it was not like he was experiencing a losing slump and deteriorating skills.

Kelly Pavlik was actually riding the high of a four-fight winning streak before riding into the sunset. Not a lot of fighters get to retire on their own terms while still being on top of their game. Kelly Pavlik, however, chose to do so for his long-term health.

"When you stay in the sport too long you have health problems. That's a big, big thing for me," he said. Kelly Pavlik’s legacy is already set in stone. While his name won’t ring a bell for the new generation of boxing fans, the real ones know what an amazing fighter he truly was.

Kelly Pavlik and 700+ professional athletes and influencers have personalized merchandise on the Fan Arch’s website!

Fan Arch aims to transcend the narrative by making it easier to bridge the gap between athletes, influencers, and their fans. Check out our creative and personalized collection through Fanarch.com.