One year ago, Kelly "The Ghost" Pavlik transformed himself from the No. 1 middleweight contender into world middleweight champion and boxing folk hero.

It was on Saturday, September 29, 2007, in Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall, that Pavlik pulled himself off the canvas after a second round knockdown, served up by undefeated defending champion Jermain Taylor, to come roaring back, knocking out Taylor in the seventh round.

More than just the passing of the torch for one of boxing's most hallowed titles, Pavlik's victory single-handedly rejuvenated interest in the sport.

Beyond his punching power and gun-slinger style of fighting, media and fans alike have embraced Pavlik for his dedication to civic duty and his self-deprecating sense of humor, which first surfaced hours after his world title victory when he made fun of himself after he discovered on his flight home to Youngstown that he had left his purse check in his Atlantic City hotel room!

Since winning the title, Pavlik, 34-0 (30), defeated Taylor in a February rematch, fought at super middleweight in Las Vegas and knocked out No. 1 middleweight contender Gary Lockett in the third round of his first world title defense, fought in June, at Boardwalk Hall.

In less than three weeks, on Saturday, October 18, Pavlik will take on two-division world champion and living legend Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins, 48-5-1 (32), broadcast live via HBO Pay-Per-View from Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall, where he has become a proven gate attraction.

His fight with Hopkins, which will be fought at light heavyweight, will be Pavlik's third bout in as many different weight classes, all fought within a nine month period.

(0) comments | Add your comments
Click to read more boxing articles by Boxing Press

Discuss in Boxing Forum | Send to a friend.

---

Related Boxing Articles...

• Kelly Pavlik, Bernard Hopkins To Hold Boxing Pep Rally

  Undefeated world middleweight champion Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik and legendary former two-division world champion Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins will host a news conference, followed by a boisterous fan-friendly Public Pep >
  
  

• Pavlik vs. Hopkins Boxing Pep Rally In Youngstown

  Undefeated world middleweight champion Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik and legendary former two-division world champion Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins will host a news conference, followed by a boisterous fan-friendly public Pep >
  
  

• Boxing Quotes: Kelly Pavlik vs. Bernard Hopkins

  Bernard Hopkins: I’m a boxing fan and I am a fan of Kelly Pavlik. I am a fan of Pavlik because he became a champion the right way. Not >
  
  

• Boxing Weigh-In: Kelly Pavlik vs. Bernard Hopkins

  Light heavyweights, 12 rounds Kelly Pavlik: 169 lb Bernard Hopkins: 170 lb WBO Featherweight title, 12 rounds Steven Luevano: 126 lb Billy Dib: 126 lb WBC Middleweight title eliminator, 12 rounds: Marco Antonio Rubio: 159 >
  
  

• Boxing Perspective: Can Bernard Hopkins Turn Back The Clock One More Time?

  Philadelphia's ageless warrior Bernard Hopkins gets one more chance to show the world of boxing that in his case age is just a number when he meets undefeated middleweight world >
  
  

• Kelly Pavlik on Showtime.

  Youngstown, Ohio's unbeaten middleweight Kelly Pavlik will get some much needed exposure from SHOWTIME. Kelly will be part of a " ShoBox: The New Generation" doubleheader on March 4th from >
  
  

• Boxing Info: Pavlik Trainer Loew Confident Of Victory Against Hopkins

  Like Christopher Columbus, two-division world champion Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins is about to?make a new discovery, courtesy undefeated World Middleweight Champion Kelly "The Ghost" Pavlik. Pavlik and Hopkins battle in >
  
  

• Boxing Preview Analysis: Kelly Pavlik vs. Bernard Hopkins

  

  © Jim Everett / Saddo Boxing Bernard Hopkins, a pro now for 20 years, continues his remarkable career when he meets fellow American Kelly Pavlik in a 12 round light >
  
  

• ESPN To Profile Boxing’s Kelly Pavlik Tonight On E:60

  Tonight's edition of ESPN’s prime-time newsmagazine E:60, at 7 p.m. ET, will include a profile of Kelly Pavlik, the undefeated middleweight boxing champion from Youngstown, Ohio. Pavlik takes on >
  
  

• Pavlik vs. Lockett Boxing Showdown Heats Up

  Jack Loew, trainer of world middleweight champion Kelly "The Ghost" Pavlik, read with great interest the remarks made earlier this week by Gary "The Rocket" Lockett, the No. 1 contender >
  
  

---

Boxing News Tags: , Bernard Hopkins, Gary Lockett, Jermain Taylor, Kelly Pavlik