Middleweight Champion of the World Kelly Pavlik (33-0, 29 KO's) made a shocking announcement today at Cassese's MVR in Youngstown, Ohio. The champ, speaking in front of a standing room only crowd for a local press conference to announce his title defense against Gary Lockett (30-1, 21 KO's) on June 7th said, "I definitely want to go out with a bang. This is probably going to be my last fight. I know I said I wanted to defend my title numerous times, but you have to do what you have to do and I think I'm going to go into retirement after this fight." When asked why he's making the choice to retire, Pavlik playfully added, "Because it's April 1st!"
When the laughter and joking subsided, Pavlik was strictly all business as he broke down Lockett. "Lockett is dangerous. He's got good hand speed, and he's got good punching power. He has a wallup. He also throws short punches and comes straight ahead. He doesn't move side to side."
The fact that the fight is back in Atlantic City, the location where Pavlik won the middleweight title, put a smile on the champ. "I'm superstitious so going back to Atlantic City is awesome." When Pavlik stopped Jermaine Taylor last September, the Boardwalk was entrenched with Youngstown natives that made the Trek to support their favorite son. "I'm hopeful that the turnout will be there again for this fight," Pavlik added.
The fact that Gary Lockett doesn't have the biggest name or the best resume doesn't seem to play a role in how Pavlik is going to prepare for this fight. "It took me 7 years to get a championship. I want to defend it now. When you come into a fight not fully prepared, that is when you are putting your health at risk," Pavlik explained.
Pavlik will be a heavy favorite come June 7th. After all the tough fights under his belt in the last year, Pavlik started to relish being the underdog. "It stinks that I'm not the underdog. I like being the underdog." With Pavlik being not only the World Champion at middleweight, but also the best at middleweight, it's safe to say that Pavlik's days of being in the underdog role are a thing of the past.
When asked how long Pavlik will remain at middleweight, the champ added, "I feel good right now. It depends on my opponents. I'd like the other belts in the division, but Abraham and Sturm fight out of Europe. If the process takes a long time, I'll pass up those fights to move up to super middleweight or light heavyweight." Pavlik also talked about his health. "As long as I can make the weight comfortably, without risking my health, I'll stay at 160."
Another name that was thrown out as a possible future opponent for Pavlik was former Jr. Middleweight Champion Winky Wright. "We called out Winky Wright two or three hundred times. Now that he can't get the big fights and he's been losing his fights, he wants to fight me all of a sudden. He's a guy I'd love to smack around a little bit."
Once Pavlik decides to move onto the bigger divisions, the name that was talked about was Joe Calzaghe, who's father and trainer, Enzo Calzaghe, just so happens to be the trainer of Lockett. "I'd love to fight Joe Calzaghe. He's got a big fight with Hopkins that he has to worry about. That's a big name and everyone knows I'll fight whoever they (Top Rank) put in front of me.
Kelly Pavlik stayed cool and collective during the entire press conference. He still remains to have the same focus and humbleness as he had when he was a rising contender. He stayed afterward and signed autograph after autograph, not turning anyone down. It takes a special mind to keep things into perspective, and Pavlik appears to have the goods, not only physically, but mentally as well.
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