Pavlik wins a decision

Pavlik wins a decision
by Dan Rafael

Pavlik's story is familiar to most boxing fans by now -- the former middleweight champ lost the title to Sergio Martinez in 2010 and had all kinds of problems since, mainly with alcohol, which landed him in rehab. He fought again 13 months later, but the personal problems persisted as did issues with promoter Top Rank. But, seemingly, Pavlik, 30, of Youngstown, Ohio, has things under control now. He made up with Top Rank, split with career-long trainer Jack Loew to join Robert Garcia's stable in Oxnard, Calif., and returned after another 10-month layoff for an easy win in March. Then Pavlik was right back in action in June against another soft touch. When former lightweight titlist Brandon Rios suffered an elbow injury, his fight with Mauricio Herrera was canceled and Pavlik quickly accepted the HBO undercard spot on three weeks' notice against Rosinsky, 27, of Ozone Park, N.Y., a former standout amateur whose lone loss came to top prospect Edwin Rodriguez in October. Rosinsky was the first legitimate opponent of Pavlik's comeback and, although Pavlik still looked a little shaky here and there, he got the job done quite effectively in a clear decision win. It was an entertaining bout and a tough fight for both guys. But for Pavlik, the important thing besides the win was that he got in much-needed rounds as he looks toward a major fight in the fall. He hopes it will be for a super middleweight world title. Pavlik dropped Rosinsky with a right hand in the second round but also suffered a cut over his left eye in the fourth round. It was ruled from a punch although on HBO's replays it looked as though the cut was from an accidental head butt.

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