By Scoop Malinowski

It’s been whispered in boxing circles that one of the reasons there is a shortage of
superstar boxers being produced in America is because of a decline in top level trainers.
If you look at the pound-for-pound lists, most of the names are of boxers outside of the
U.S.

But unbeaten and awesome WBC/WBO Middleweight champ Kelly Pavlik has earned his placement
among the best fighters in the world today and a considerable reason why is because he has
been trained by Jack Loew since the age of ten. So here is an insightful Q&A with one of
America’s finest trainers from Youngstown, Ohio, Jack Loew who reveals when Kelly first
stood out to him, his own start in boxing, who relieved the incredible tension before the
Miranda fight, and much more…

Boxinginsider: How did you start in boxing?

Jack Loew: “I started out helping Ed Sullivan, one of our old trainers from back in the
era that used to train (Ray) Mancini and (Harry) Arroyo and everybody. I just got into it.
We purchased our own building and I’ve always been fortunate. My gym’s always been crowded.
I’ve been one of the fortunate ones in Youngstown, we’ve had so many good gyms and they all
closed. And I’ve just been real successful.”

Boxinginsider: Can you share an early memory as a trainer? (as a boxer Jack was 18-1 as an
amateur).

Jack Loew: “Taking the young kids around. Even Kelly Pavlik, we traveled all around the
country just to have fun. And that’s what I enjoyed the sport so much because it was fun.
In the amateur level it’s fun, there’s no pressure. Now this is a business, it’s a lot
different.”

Boxinginsider: Do you have a vivid early memory of Kelly?

Jack Loew: “His tenacity to win. In everything in the gym, to whether it was we were
running our sprints, whether we were running our distance, sparring, Kelly just has that
tenacity that he wants to win. I always loved that about the kid. That’s what always kept
me pushing him.”

Boxinginsider: How old do you remember him when that tenacity first stood out?

Jack Loew: “He had his very first fight at ten-years-old and he fought a kid with 24
fights. I kinda just threw him on the card. Whether he got beat he got beat. It’s a
learning experience. And he just went in there and whupped this kid’s butt. And I was like,
Wow. I didn’t even give him a uniform. I gave everybody else on the team a uniform. I
didn’t give Kelly one. And now I regret that one [laughs]. He could have any uniform he
wants now.”

Boxinginsider: When did the idea first hatch in your head that he could become what he is
today?

Jack Loew: “You always hope. But when he was 16/17-years-old he started winning some major
tournaments. And started winning them very convincingly. Our first U.S. championship he
beat a kid like Darnell Wilson which is a three or four time national champ. We were only
17-years-old. I knew there was something there. But you never imagine this level and this
magnitude. This is just like winning the Super Bowl.”

Boxinginsider: What’s been the greatest moment so far in the journey?

Jack Loew: “Winning the world championship. When they raised his hand. When he stopped
Jermain Taylor. When he got up off the canvas in the second round and he showed that true
heart and he came back in the third round and jumped right on him. And then finished him
the way he did. That had to be the greastet moment for me so far.”

Boxinginsider: The most painful moment?

Jack Loew: “Watching him go down in the second round. Not so much for our careers or
anything. It’s just Kelly’s like a kid to me. He’s like my own son. I thought he was really
hurt. And I didn’t want him to get hurt. And I wasn’t gonna let him get hurt and I was on
the steps. That was really hard to watch him go down like that.”

Boxinginsider: As Kelly is clearly one of the best pound-for-pound fighters today, willing
to fight the best, unlike Floyd. You defeated Taylor and Emanuel Steward. I think these
achievements in a way qualifies you as one of the best trainers in America today. Your
comment?

Jack Loew: “Well I appreciate that. It goes back to I’m always willing to learn. There’s a
lot of great young trainers out there. I don’t hold that - I don’t put that mark on myself.
I just think that anyone that’s been given the opportunity - you gotta jump on it. I’ve
been given this opportunity. I’ve worked hard at it with Kelly. I just want to fulfill what
everybody expects out of me.”

Boxinginsider: Last question, can you share any funny memories with Kelly? Something that
made you chuckle.

Jack Loew: “There’s all kinds of funny memories. Kelly’s just a complete jokester. All he
does is joke. He actually keeps me calm. I remember before the Miranda fight. My ***hole
was so puckered up, I was so nervous. And here’s a kid going into a fight, nobody expected
Kelly to even last. So he goes to me, Loosen up man, it’ll be all right.

“And I’m like, I’m supposed to be keeping him calm and here’s a kid getting ready to fight
the fight of his life and he’s telling me to just calm down [smiles]. Everything will be
all right. I always thought that was comical. I think back to that. I’m a little more
relaxed in the dressing room now [smiles].”

Scoop’s book “Heavyweight Armageddon! The Final Tyson-Lennox Battle” has just finished
final proofreads and will be available soon!