Bernard Fernandez | Could Pavlik be a Shore thing?

THERE IS a scene in the 1964 movie "The Carpetbaggers" in which movie mogul Bernard B. Norman (played by Martin Balsam) seeks to sell his one-star studio to unsuspecting multimillionaire Jonas Cord Jr. (George Peppard) before Cord discovers that the studio's biggest moneymaker, Rina Marlowe (Carroll Baker), has died in an automobile accident.

When Cord, who already had signed the purchase agreement, learns he's been had and Rina - his longtime object of lust - is dead, he goes on a drinking binge. But he sobers up after a few days and coolly uses his money and power to transform call girl Jennie Denton (Martha Hyer) into his new studio's next screen seductress.

In a sense, that story line could be played out again in Atlantic City. Since casino gambling was introduced to the Jersey shore in 1978, boxing in Boardwalk Hall essentially has been a one-star operation. Mike Tyson was the first Rina Marlowe, playing to sellout crowds until his entrepreneur patron, Donald Trump, experienced cash-flow difficulties and largely bailed out of the fight game.

The latest Rina, welterweight action hero Arturo Gatti, didn't die in the literal sense, but his career expired after the blood-and-guts scrapper lost three of his final four bouts by stoppage. The last, to Alfonso Gomez on July 14, sent him into a well-deserved and clearly overdue retirement.

Our latter-day Jonas - Bally's Atlantic City senior vice president Ken Condon - is on the lookout for the next Jennie Denton, someone to keep boxing vibrant in Boardwalk Hall in much the same manner as Tyson and Gatti did.

Possibly auditioning for the role is middleweight sensation Kelly Pavlik (31-0, 28 KOs), who challenges WBC/WBO champ Jermain Taylor (27-0-1, 17 KOs) on Sept. 29 in a bout that is as notable for its location as for the alphabet title belts that will be on the line.

Why Atlantic City for this bout, and why now? Taylor, 28, who hails from Little Rock, Ark., prefers to stick close to his roots, frequently fighting in Little Rock and Memphis, Tenn. His only previous appearance in Atlantic City was a 10-round decision over journeyman Sam Hill on Aug. 17, 2002, at the Trump Taj Mahal.

In any case, Taylor - who has had a recent string of less-than-scintillating performances, the most recent a split decision over Cory Spinks on May 19 in Memphis - isn't really the draw on Sept. 29, despite his two points victories over Philadelphia's Bernard Hopkins, both of which were disputed and came in Las Vegas. Even if he defeats Pavlik, it's difficult to imagine Taylor pledging allegiance to a venue so far removed from his comfort zone. And if Taylor were to make himself available for repeat visits, Gatti's discerning fans might not be disposed to designate him as their new rooting interest.

The 25-year-old Pavlik, though, could fill the bill. No, the Youngstown, Ohio, resident hasn't previously fought in Atlantic City, but his punching power and willingness to mix it up are Gattiesque. Remember, Gatti - born in Montreal and in recent years based in Jersey City, N.J. - was more or less adopted by Atlantic City regulars who over time came to view him as one of their own. Twenty-two of Gatti's 49 bouts were held in various AC locales, and the last nine - including eight sellouts - were in Boardwalk Hall.

"I absolutely think there's a void now, with Gatti retired, and we are looking to create a new 'hometown' favorite," Condon confirmed. "Youngstown, Ohio, is within our market so we consider Pavlik an East Coast fighter. If he can step up to the plate and give a good showing against Taylor, he could be Atlantic City's next big thing."

Gatti was The Franchise down the shore. When he was hammered by Gomez, the good times he always brought to town left along with 9,438 silent and subdued would-be revelers who filed out into the night wondering if another popular party boy would ever have Boardwalk Hall hopping again.

Pavlik's promoter, Top Rank founder Bob Arum, used to have a strong East Coast presence, but he closed the company's offices in New York and Atlantic City in 1986 and moved his headquarters to Las Vegas. It probably was a sound business decision, but of late Arum has demonstrated a willingness to branch out. Puerto Rico's Miguel Cotto, the WBA welterweight champion, in particular has been at the forefront of Top Rank's revitalized Eastern operation.

Perhaps sensing that a battle-worn Gatti was nearing the end of the line, other fighters have previously announced their candidacies as possible replacements. After his first bout in Atlantic City, an eight-round decision over Ronnie Warrior Jr. on June 9, 2006, at the Tropicana, junior middleweight prospect Harry Joe Yorgey said: "Gatti's on the way out. Atlantic City needs another guy. Could it be me? I hope so."

Since then, Yorgey (19-0-1, 9 KOs), from Bridgeport, Pa., has had five fights, all in Pennsylvania. His Atlantic City ambitions, if indeed he still harbors them, are on hold, proof that wishing for something does not necessarily make it so.

If Pavlik isn't disposed to pick up the banner laid down by Gatti, perhaps Condon might want to consider WBO interim lightweight titlist Michael Katsidis, an Australian of Greek extraction who made his first appearance in the United States on July 21. Fighting on the undercard of Hopkins-Winky Wright at Las Vegas' Mandalay Bay, Katsidis was hindered from the second round on by a horrible cut beneath his left eye. Katsidis (23-0, 20 KOs) paid no heed to the river of red and outworked the Philippines' Czar Amosot (18-3-1, 10 KOs) to win a unanimous decision.

"It was a tough fight, but that's the way I like to win them," Katsidis said, sounding very much like Gatti. *

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