Boxing Update: Enzo Calzaghe Fighting Mad Ahead Of Pavlik vs. Lockett Clash

Trainer of the Year Enzo Calzaghe has once again rapped the knuckles of Jack Loew, the trainer of undefeated world middleweight champion Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik.

Calzaghe is incensed that Loew is dismissing Gary “The Rocket” Lockett, Pavlik’s No. 1 contender and mandatory challenger, by looking ahead at a showdown against his son Joe, the undefeated division world champion.

Loew has already incurred the wrath of the fiery Sardinian by saying that Calzaghe can teach Lockett to slap like a girl — just like Joe.

The hammer-fisted Lockett, 30-1 (21), from Cwmbran, Wales, intends to mete out a “mandatory sentence” to the top-10 pound-for-pounder Pavilk, 33-0 (29), from Youngstown, Ohio.

Calzaghe Sr., who arrived in New York with Lockett yesterday, firmly believes his man will cause a big upset.

“Joe’s my son and I’m also his trainer, but this is Gary’s fight this Saturday, not Joe’s,” said Calzaghe. “Loew’s big ego and mouth seem to be going in a different direction than his brain and he is getting carried away talking about fighting Joe, let’s see what happens on Saturday night first.

“This is where Loew is showing his inexperience as a trainer and it will cost him dearly. Lesson number one, Jack, is don’t count your chickens before they’ve hatched.

“I find it disrespectful that they are talking as if Gary is just a stepping stone for Pavlik, but Gary is going to have them eating their words. Loew has already insulted my training methods by saying that I teach my fighters to slap and now they are ignoring Gary’s credentials. Well, on Sunday morning they are going to be wondering where it all went wrong.”

Opening the HBO broadcast will be WBO junior featherweight champion Daniel Ponce De Leon, 34-1 (30), from Huntington Park, Calif, 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 Pavilk-Lockett world middleweight championship fight will take place this Saturday, June 7, at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall. It will be broadcast live on HBO World Championship Boxing, beginning at 10:05 p.m. ET / 7:05 p.m. PT.

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