Since then, however, the former junior college national champion has posted three victories, including a second-round finish of Chris Daukaus where his boxing was so clean and crisp that he didn’t even need to dip into his wrestling bag to get the victory.
“I knew we (were) going to meet in the cage soon,” Pavlovich said when asked about eyeing Blaydes as a potential opponent prior to the matchup being announced.
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“Me and my team did great work researching my opponent,” he continued, offering the “speak softly” part of the Roosevelt approach in beginning to explain what he needs to be prepared for when he steps in with Blaydes this weekend. “I have been training really hard, so I’m ready for anything.”
There is a “matter of fact” nature to Pavlovich and many of his Russian contemporaries when it comes to discussing their careers, their achievements, and the kinds of milestone moments that seem to be discussed far more and in greater detail with modern North American athletes.
It’s not that they’re unaffected by their accomplishments or trying to fit the Hollywood stereotype of stoic, emotionless marauders in the Ivan Drago vein, but rather that they’re much more focused on the task at hand and tackling the next challenge.
