Although Pedro Fernandez of Ring Talk is reporting that middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik has recently entered a rehabilitation center for alcohol abuse, Brandon Wright, of the the Plain Dealer is reporting that fellow Plain Dealer reporter Joe Maxse spoke with Cameron Dunkin, Pavlik's co-manager, who vehemently denied Fernandez's story.
Dunkin responds to the accusations:
"He's not in rehab. He hasn't been in rehab," Dunkin said of Pavlik. "It's not true. Pedro Fernandez is a scumbag. These guys write it, and everyone on the Internet went with it. They're not journalists. They're not accountable to anyone. Who gives this guy any credibility?"
Dunkin also adds that Pavlik has been contacted for comment on the rumors and that his father Mike, his other co-manager, is "furious."
Notes from SC: While we made it clear we were merely sharing a rumor from Pedro Fernandez, Bad Left Hook apologizes if the Pavlik family suffered any embarrassment or hurt from our post. We gladly retract the story and now post this -- gleefully, even, because it means that one of the best fighters in the sport isn't going through anything so serious.