CANFIELD, Ohio - Former middle weight champ Kelly Pavlik will have to answer to operating a vehcile under the influence (OVI) charges after a run in with a light post.

According to the Mahoning County Sheriff's Department, officers were dispatched to a Canfield neighborhood after a resident reported two individuals were riding all terrain vehicles and appeared to be intoxicated and that one of the riders was boxer Kelly Pavlik.

Police then took a short drive down the street to Pavlik's home to find a ATV sitting in the driveway.

The officers were greeted by Daniel Ferreri, a friend of Pavliks.

According to the police report, Daniel Ferreri told officers that he was the one that was operating the ATV that caused the accident. But after a lengthy discussion with the officers, he finally admitted that it was Pavlik who was operating the ATV that took out the light post.

During the same time, officers say Pavlik kept interfering, swearing at the officers, telling them to get off of his property.

According the report, it appeared that Pavlik was very intoxicated, his speech was slurred and a strong odor of alcohol was emitting from Pavlik.

Officers asked to conduct a field sobriety test at which time the boxer refused and was placed under arrest and taken to the Canfield Police Department where he refused to take a blood alcohol test.

The report did note Pavlik had a cut with blood on the back of his head, but when offered medical attention the boxer refused.

He is charged with OVI, failure to control a motor vehicle and failure to stop after an accident, all misdemeanors.

Pavlik will answer to the charges in court on Friday morning.

21 News attempted to reach Pavlik for comment, but our requests went unanswered.

Earlier this year, Pavlik did spend time at the Betty Ford Clinic in California and just two weeks ago, in an exclusive interview with 21 Sports, he was asked if he had a alcohol problem.

Sports Director Dana Balash: do you feel you have an alcohol problem today or no?

Kelly Pavlik: No I don't. It hasn't been a problem, but that is the only thing anybody can ever hold on me. That's the only thing anybody's got. Out of envy, mad, or what, that is the only excuse anybody could ever have.

His 20-year relationship with trainer Jack Loew, which became strained over the last few years, came to an end earlier this year.

Pavlik is now being represented by Top Rank Boxing. The organization did not comment about the ATV incident.

Pavlik is scheduled to start training in California on December 29th.

PRODUCER NOTE:  The links for the 21 Sports exclusive interviews with Kelly Pavlik and Jack Loew are on the left hand side of this page.