Former middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik, who has spent the last two months at the Betty Ford Center for treatment for alcohol abuse that prompted a family intervention, has been discharged today.
Pavlik lost the title on a decision to Sergio Martinez last April and was scheduled to make his comeback Nov. 13 on the Manny Pacquiao-Antonio Margarito undercard at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. However, Pavlik withdrew a couple of weeks before the scheduled bout against Brian Vera.
The reason given for Pavlik’s withdrawal was a rib injury, which the camp says was legitimate, but Pavlik’s drinking had also become enough of a problem that he sought treatment for a second time after his family conducted an intervention in early November. Pavlik also was treated at Betty Ford for two weeks during the month prior to his loss to Martinez.
Promoter Bob Arum told the Youngstown Vindicator that Top Rank will support Pavlik 100% and if Pavlik is ready he will give him a spot on the undercard of Pacquiao’s fight with Shane Mosley on May 7 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Good for him I hope it helped open his eyes and helps him turn his life around.
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