"Solo Boxeo"

 Zuniga vs. Pavlik

October 7, 2005

Aladdin Resort & Casino

Las Vegas, Nevada

On Telefutura "Solo Boxeo"

9pm \ 8pm Central (Check local listings)

NABF Middleweight Title Bout (vacant) - 12 Rds

Fulgencio Zuniga (17-1-1, 16 KOs) vs. Kelly Pavlik (26-0, 22 KOs)

Featherweight Bout

Ricardo "Piolo" Castillo (25-2, 18 KOs) vs. Phillip Payne (16-15-1, 8 KOs)

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Las Vegas - Powerful, hard-hitting world-rated middleweight Kelly Pavlik of Youngstown, Ohio will go into

his biggest fight at The Aladdin Resort and Casino on Friday, Oct. 7.

Pavlik, 26-0 with 22 knockouts, will take on Fulgencio Zuniga, 17-1-1 with 16 knockouts, of Padilla,

Colombia in a 12-round title bout. Zuniga, the IBA champion, is coming off a win over David Lopez and an

all-out riveting battle against Jose Luis Zertuche.

"Pavlik and Zuniga are two top, world-class middleweights with much at stake in this one," said Bob Arum

of Top Rank.

The Top Rank championship event will include six bouts. Doors will open at 5:00 pm local time. The first bell

is scheduled for 5:20 pm. The Telefutura telecast will begin at 6:00 pm (check local listings in your area).

Pavlik vs. Zuniga is the featured attraction and is a compelling matchup. Pavlik is world-rated at WBO # 4,

WBA # 7 and WBC # 9. He is a former National Golden Gloves champion and a U.S. National champion.

Pavlik, only 23, captured his biggest win on national television when he stopped Dorian Beaupierre, 12-1-2,

in two rounds in Choctaw, Miss. on March 4. Pavlik went right for a blistering attack, hurt Beaupierre at the

end of the first round and stopped him in the second.

In Pavlik's previous bout, he decisioned Ross Thompson, 26-8-2 of Las Vegas.

"I feel real strong going into this fight and I really believe I am ready to fight for a world title," Pavlik said.

Zuniga, 28, is a former WBO Latin America champion. He fought for the WBO world title and it was his only

loss, to Daniel Santos who is still a title holder. Zuniga is coming off two hot performances, defeating David

Lopez followed by a riveting bout against Joe Luis Zertuche which wound up as a draw.

Zuniga has fought in a total of 6 title bouts and in those he has a record of 4-1-1.

- Press Release issued by Top Rank  with a little editing from us (highlights, color, etc...)

  (10/7/05)