Kelly Pavlik stands near the desk in his Columbiana fitness center, MiGym. “The Ghost,” as Pavlik was known in professional boxing circles, operates a charitable organization that serves the health and wellness needs of youth in grades four through 12 throughout Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties. (Photo by Stephanie Ujhelyi)

COLUMBIANA — It isn’t lost on Kelly Pavlik that a will to win can help youngsters battle out of the most difficult of circumstances.

Pavlik, who grew up on the streets of Youngstown, would go on to not only compile a 40-2 record with 34 knockouts as a former professional boxer but hold a unified middleweight championship title at the height of his success.

However, this “Ghost” was not content on just grabbing his glory and retiring quietly.

He instead began the Kelly Pavlik Charitable Organization to provide health and wellness services to underprivileged youth in the Mahoning Valley, looking to make a difference.

With two locations — MiGym in Columbiana and the Kelly Pavlik Championship Boxing in Boardman — Pavlik services clients seeking boxing, strength training, conditioning and nutrition advice. There is no charge for youth in grades four to 12 thanks to his charitable ways.

Pavlik hopes to add free educational tutoring and counseling services in the coming months as well as after-school meals as part of the youth program.

After initially opening MiGym seven years ago in a building next to Birdfish Brewing Company on East Park Avenue in Columbiana, Pavlik added his Boardman location at 8381 Market St. last year. The Boardman location is strictly boxing unlike Columbiana’s MiGym, which offers strength training and conditioning.

Pavlik acknowledges that fundraising to sustain his mission has been difficult.

There is a clear disparity in the available funds for areas like Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties than those found for large urban areas like Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati.

However, the need for his charitable organization definitely is there. “A lot of the kids are either underprivileged, at risk, or just kids who are not underprivileged but do not have the side money to pay for tutoring or extra help,” he detailed in a story for sister newspaper, The Vindicator.

In fact, Pavlik said that more than 300 youth utilized the program at no charge for both locations over the past few years.

In order to support his charitable organization’s efforts, Pavlik promotes various fundraisers boxing and non-boxing related.

He has three coming up during the remaining months of 2025.

He is partnering with the New Waterford Friends to present a three-day concert event Friday, Aug. 8 through Sunday, Aug. 10 at New Waterford Village Park, featuring performances by Lewis Brice, the Red Jumpsuit Apparatus and Morgan Myles and various supporting acts.

The Friends will split the proceeds three ways between Pavlik’s organization and Autism Speaks.