BOXING: Pavlik-Williams Presser

The on-again, off-again, on-again fight between World Middleweight Champ Kelly Pavlik and Paul Williams is official. The two fighters met at the NY York Giants training facility, the state of the art Timex Performance Center in East Rutherford, NJ. The pair will meet on December 5, 2009 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ.

The presser took place in the auditorium where the Giants have their players meetings and while it was a great room, the lighting was very uneven for a photo event.

Someone also kept playing with the lighting during the event, so it changed around quite a bit. Anyway, back to the presser, the fighters conducted some one on one's while HBO's Buzz crew gathered soundbites from all involved, including Giants radio announcer/HBO commentator Bob Papa and New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs.






The fighters were very complimentary of each other, but per usual, both proclaimed they would be the victor come fight night. Each fighter was also presented with a commemorative Giants jersey by Jacobs, Pavlik with the number 12, and Williams with 5, to mark the December 5th date of the fight.


Today's presser took place two year's to the day of Pavlik winning the Middleweight Championship at Boardwalk Hall, and he was presented with a cake in celebration. I had received a call over the weekend from publicist Fred Sternburg looking to get the right's to an image of Pavlik I shot of him winning the title from Jermain Taylor (see below) to use on the cake.


However when I got there, they had gone in another direction and had the cake designed by TLC's "The Cake Boss". On hand to present the cake was Mauro Castano from the show. Would have been cool to see my image on a cake designed by them, but hey no big deal...


After the presentations, it was time for the fighter's to face off in the obligatory staredown...




The fight was delayed from earlier in the year due to a staph infection, which also forced the cancellation of another of Pavlik's fights. His hand still looked like it should be a reason for concern, but all in attendance said everything is on schedule.


In my I just have to do it moment, I snapped a picture with the Giants 3 Super Bowl Trophies...taken by Top Rank photographer Chris Farina


who also forced me to do this one, of course I blending in perfectly with all the other fans on the wall so you couldn't even see me...



Next up the start of the NHL season on Saturday, Devils and Flyers!!!

All images copyright Ed Mulholland. No unauthorized usage permitted.