No. 1 contender and mandatory challenger Gary “The Rocket” Lockett, 30-1 (21), from Cwmbran, Wales, has vowed to follow in the footsteps of two-division world champion and fellow stablemate Joe Calzaghe by winning his debut fight in America.

The Rocket Man challenges middleweight kingpin Kelly Pavlik, 33-0 (29), from Youngstown, OH, in Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall on Saturday, June 7, for Pavlik’s WBO and WBC world titles.

And although the 31-year-old goes to the States a massive underdog, he possesses the explosive KO power to create a huge upset.

“Joe’s win over Bernard Hopkins was an inspiration to me,” said Lockett. “He went to the States and did British boxing proud, and I’ll do the same in June. Not many people have heard of me in the US, but once I’ve beaten Pavlik, I’ll be a household name.”

Yet confident Lockett realises the size of the task he is up against.

“Obvioulsy Pavlik is a huge name and a very dangerous fighter,” he said. He’s already beaten Jermain Taylor twice, and you have to give him massive respect for that.

“Added to that, he’s unbeaten in 33 fights and will be a very, very tough customer. He’s a puncher like me and I recognise that I’ll have to be at my very best to win the fight.

“But I’ve seen a few weaknesses in Pavlik’s style that I believe I can exploit. He’s been tagged before, and with my power, I’ve got a great chance of knocking him out.”

Lockett has been training hard with BWAA Trainer of the Year Enzo Calzaghe in Newbridge, Wales, and will be getting some tips from Calzaghe Jnr when he returns from the Caribbean from his post-fight holiday.

Opening the HBO broadcast will be WBO junior featherweight champion Daniel Ponce De Leon, 34-1 (30), from Huntington Park, CA, defending his title for the seventh time, against No. 1 contender and mandatory challenger Juan Manuel Lopez, 21-0 (19), from Caguas, Puerto Rico.

Combined, this quartet of sluggers boasts an incredible record of 118-2 (99), a winning percentage of over 98% and a victory by knockout ratio of 84%!

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Frank Warren’s Sports Network and Caesars Atlantic City, the Pavlik-Lockett world middleweight championship will be broadcast live on HBO World Championship Boxing, beginning at 9:35 p.m. EDT / 6:35 p.m. PDT in the U.S. The UK will see it via Setanta Sports 1.

Remaining tickets, priced at $300, $200, $100, and $50, can be purchased at the Boardwalk Hall box office, by calling Ticketmaster (800) 736-1420 or online at www.ticketmaster.com

(0) comments | Add your comments
Click to read more boxing articles by Boxing Press

Discuss in Boxing Forum | Send to a friend.

---

Related Boxing Articles...

• Pavlik vs. Lockett Boxing Showdown Heats Up

  Jack Loew, trainer of world middleweight champion Kelly "The Ghost" Pavlik, read with great interest the remarks made earlier this week by Gary "The Rocket" Lockett, the No. 1 contender >
  
  

• Boxing Press Conference: Kelly Pavlik vs Gary Lockett

  

  **With Slideshow** © Jim Everett / Saddo Boxing Yesterday at BB King’s Blues Club Restaurant in New York City, Top Rank held a press conference to announce the first title defense for >
  
  

• Boxing Update: Tickets On Sale For Pavlik vs. Lockett

  Undefeated world middleweight champion Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik returns to his old haunt, Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall, where he first captured the world title, Saturday, June 7, in his first >
  
  

• Lockett Aims for British Title.

  Hard-hitting Welshman Gary Lockett now has the British Middleweight title in his sights after his fight against Allan Gray on 21 January at the Bridgend Leisure Centre has been billed >
  
  

• Boxing Perspective: Reinventing Jermain Taylor

  I will say that in a rematch that Jermain Taylor could do better against Kelly Pavlik. The fact of it is, Taylor has problems within himself that caused him to >
  
  

• Pavlik Off Injured List, Resumes Training For Taylor Rematch

  Undefeated World middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik was certified 100% ready to resume full training today, clearing the way for Pavlik's first title defense against former world champion Jermain Taylor. Earlier this >
  
  

• Ringside Boxing Report: Kelly Pavlik - Fulgencio Zuniga

  

  ***With tons of Boxing Action Photos*** Fight fans at the Aladdin Resort in Las Vegas last night won’t soon forget the brawl that took place between middleweights Kelly Pavlik and Fulgencio >
  
  

• Kelly Pavlik on Showtime.

  Youngstown, Ohio's unbeaten middleweight Kelly Pavlik will get some much needed exposure from SHOWTIME. Kelly will be part of a " ShoBox: The New Generation" doubleheader on March 4th from >
  
  

• Marquez Wants Pavlik

  Former world junior middleweight champion and current top ten rated middleweight contender Raul Marquez has gotten into the title mix at 160 pounds the old-fashioned way – he earned it >
  
  

• Boxing Fury! Pavlik - Zuniga on Telefutura For NABF Belt

  Tremendous knockout punchers Kelly Pavlik and Fulgencio Zuniga meet tomorrow night at the Aladdin Resort in Las Vegas on a Top Rank show televised by Telefutura. The vacant NABF Middleweight >
  
  

---

Boxing News Tags: Frank Warren, Gary Lockett, Kelly Pavlik, Kelly Pavlik vs Gary Lockett, Top Rank, Welsh Boxing