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 who will be challenging Pavlik for the title in June.

“I see where Lockett has become inspired by Joe Calzaghe’s victory over Bernard Hopkins in his US debut and is predicting the same result against Kelly. Maybe Enzo Calzaghe can teach Lockett to slap like a girl, just like Joe,” said Loew.

“You can get away with that style of fighting against a 43-year-old geezer, but don’t try that against Kelly. That’s how rockets crash and burn. Kelly is having a camp that is second to none.

“We didn’t work this hard to win the title just to have Lockett and his troubadour trainer take it away from us. Kelly is going to launch Lockett back to Wales…without a plane.”

Pavlik, 33-0 (29), from Youngstown, OH, makes his first title defense against mandatory challenger Lockett, 30-1 (21), from Cwmbran, Wales, Saturday, June 7, at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall.

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.

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%!

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