By John F. McKenna (McJack): When former middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik (37-2, 32 KO’s) cancelled out of his match with Daryl Cunningham (23-2, 10 KO’s) in Youngstown, Ohio last Saturday night many people were surprised and angered. The fight was to be televised on Showtime and the entire card had to be cancelled. Pavlik’s action left Showtime, promoters and obviously Daryl Cunningham holding the bag.

It was thought by some that Kelly, who did a stint at the Betty Ford Center last winter for alcohol addiction, had returned to drinking. Pavlik had been involved in an altercation with his brother in July in which police had to be called. Allegedly the police reported that alcohol was involved in the altercation. Red flags went up at the time when the event was widely reported in the media.

Supposedly Top Rank had negotiated a lucrative deal for Kelly Pavlik to fight light heavyweight champion Lucian Bute contingent on Kelly getting past Cunningham. Understandably Top Rank executives are furious with Pavlik, more so when it was reported on a local TV station that he wanted more money.

Even relatives and close friends are baffled by Pavlik’s recent behavior, reporting that he has been getting into one dispute after another. The type of behavior being displayed by Kelly Pavlik is not at all uncommon for someone who is attempting to kick an addiction.

Alcohol or the lack of it may be playing a huge part in Kelly’s recent behavior. Ask anyone who has been around an alcoholic in recovery. The first year of recovery is pure hell as anyone who has been there can tell you. The Jekyll and Hyde personality and the roller coaster of emotions, that someone early in recovery experiences is normal. At this point it may be too much too soon for Pavlik. He needs to get a handle on the most important thing in his life that being his recovery, without which nothing else will matter.

Pavlik does have one ace in the hole and in this case it is a very big ace. Top Rank CEO Bob Arum has always looked at Kelly as a second son and is sympathetic towards him.

Arum is willing to give Pavlik more time to get his act together.