come to downtown youngstown and celebrate a champion

Kelly Pavlik, the newly crowned middleweight champion of the world, was asked by his promoter Top Rank to be in Las Vegas for a fight this weekend.

No thanks, Kelly said.

Instead he'll be home in the city of Youngstown, with a downtown celebration beginning at 5pm Friday afternoon.


Everyone from Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania is invited to downtown youngstown tomorrow afternoon.

"We had talked about an event to honor him before the fight and we are so excited to celebrate his victory," said Mayor Jay Williams. "What a celebration we're going to have in the streets of Youngstown."

Pavlik and his team will arrive around 5:30 p.m. from the southside, crossing over the Market Street Bridge and flanked by the city's police department honor guard, the fire department, and the Plazateer Band until the motorcade finishes at Central Square near the Man on the Monument.


The title of the celebration will be:

"Back Home Where It All Began"

Kelly and the rest of Team Pavlik will address the crowd; music, music, and more music will rock the downtown along with other entertainment; and partying will continue into the night.


You can watch highlights of the fight here.



TAYLOR DESTROYED. DEFEND YOUNGSTOWN.


let's celebrate our champion. way to go, Kelly