YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Kelly Pavlik, who has twice called off title fights due to an injured left hand, will finally climb back into the ring to defend his middlewight crown on December 19 here in his hometown.

Pavlik's father and co-manager, Mike Pavlik, said his son will face fellow American Miguel Espino at Youngstown State University's arena.

Espino, 20-2 with one draw and nine knockouts, has won 11 fights in a row.

Pavlik, 35-1 with 31 knockouts, has twice postponed World Boxing Council middleweight title defenses against Paul Williams, a US southpaw who is 37-1 with 27 knockouts.

But Pavlik will find his way back into the ring just two weeks after he had been scheduled to face Williams away from his home supporters.

Williams replaced Pavlik for a December 5 bout in Atlantic City with Argentina's Sergio Martinez to end a one-year layoff but hopes to finally meet Pavlik for the title in 2010 should both win next month.

Pavlik has not fought since stopping Mexico's Marco Antonio Rubio in the ninth round last February due to infection from the hand injury.

That victory came after Pavlik suffered his only loss in October of last year at Atlantic City, dropping a 12-round unanimous decision to countryman Bernard Hopkins after moving up to 170 lbs. for a non-title bout.