BREAKING NEWS

Pavlik in his glory days

Kelly "The Ghost" Pavlik (40-2, 34 KO) was once the middleweight champion of the world and one of the most popular and exciting fighters in the sport.  However those days seem like a lifetime ago.  In another setback for the former champion and admitted alcoholic, Pavlik was arrested today after allegedly refusing to pay a $25 cab fare.  On Wednesday night Pavlik got a cab ride home from a bar in Youngstown, Ohio, his hometown.  Upon arriving at his house Pavlik allegedly cursed at the cab driver and refused to pay him.  The cab driver called the police that night and when Pavlik failed to show up at court today to answer the complaint he was arrested.  Pavlik said he refused to pay the cab fare because the driver was driving like a lunatic and kept passing his house.  The saddest part of this bizarre story is the fact that Pavlik was at a bar when he has had such public problems with alcohol in the past.  In 2010 Pavlik lost a close fight to Sergio Martinez and then took a break from the sport.  Most recently Pavlik was working on a comeback with trainer Robert Garcia.  After teaming with Garcia he went 4-0 and was set to take on super middleweight champion of the world Andre Ward.  Then Ward got injured and during that period Pavlik decided he should hang the gloves up.  Certainly Pavlik still has the talent to compete at a high level but it seems the demons that surround him in Youngstown have once again taken control over him.  It is sad but if Pavlik doesn't get his demons under control he will truly end up being "The Ghost."