[Boxing] Kelly Pavlik vs Gary Lockett

[Rappy Veteran]

CHAMPIONSHIP ACTION ON THE BOARDWALK: KELLY PAVLIK VS. GARY LOCKETT AND DANIEL PONCE DE LEON VS. JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ

Summer heat arrives early when undefeated rising star Kelly Pavlik (33-0, 29 KOs), from Youngstown, Ohio, returns to Atlantic City - where he captured his middleweight crown - for his first title defense against Gary Lockett (30-1, 21 KOs), from Cwmbran, Wales, in a scheduled 12-round contest. Pavlik is coming off back-to-back wins against former middleweight champ Jermain Taylor; their memorable showdown in September 2007 was named "Fight of The Year" by the Boxing Writers Association of America. Making his American debut, Lockett also hails from an industrial town, but in the south of Wales. He's on a six-year, 14-fight undefeated streak, and hasn't lost since 2002. In addition to his near-perfect professional career, Lockett compiled an impressive amateur record of 90-8.

In the opening bout, junior featherweight champion Daniel Ponce De Leon (34-1, 30 KOs) battles undefeated top-ranked contender Juan Manuel Lopez (21-0, 19 KOs) in a scheduled 12-round bout. Originally from Cuauhtemoc, Mexico, and now residing in Huntington Park, Cal., De Leon will be making his sixth title defense since winning the belt in 2005; he fought for Mexico in the 2000 Olympic Games. Lopez, from Caguas, Puerto Rico, represented his homeland at the 2004 Olympics, and has quickly risen in the rankings since turning pro in 2005. As an amateur, he was a five-time Puerto Rican national champion.

I can see Lockett causing an upset here.

[digipoi]

I can see Lockett causing an upset here.

Lockett is a stepping stone. He will be KO'd in 6.

[Rappy Veteran]

I hope not I really want the underdogs to win.

[digipoi]

Maybe. I like underdogs too but Pavlik was an underdog once until he dismantled Taylor. I couldn't stand Taylor so it was a sweet victory to see him KO'd in the first fight. Pavlik has good reach and a hard crack. He is a great personality and down to Earth. Something I like to see in boxing. Not that Lockett is any different.

His record is not quite impressive either. Lockett

edit. I should have said 'level of competition' instead of 'record' pertaining to Lockett.

[Rappy Veteran]

Yeah I never actually looked at Locketts past fights not really that impressive.

[digipoi]

Yeah, he lost to some dude named Yuri Tsarenko. May have been a fluke moment :shrug:

You know, the undercard will probably be better. Those little guys are extremely exciting to watch. Just wanted to add that in.

[Rappy Veteran]

Gary Lockett and Kelly Pavlik's camps have ignited a war of words ahead of their world middleweight title clash.

Champion Pavlik's trainer Jack Loew taunted Lockett's coach Enzo Calzaghe about his style in which he trained his world champion son Joe.

Loew said: "Enzo can teach Lockett to slap like a girl - just like Joe."

But Calzaghe hit back: "I had to go on the internet because I'd never even heard of this person Jack Loew. And all I found was that he paves driveways."

He's never seen Lockett fight but Lockett knows all about Kelly Pavlik

Unbeaten American Pavlik is the new superstar of the boxing world and is expected to make short work of relative unknown Lockett in his first title defence.

The Welsh mandatory challenger has never fought anyone in Pavlik's league but should his punch have the force of coach Calzaghe's verbal tirade, then the champion could be in for a surprise.

"Once Lockett has dealt with Pavlik and Loew is out of boxing then at least he can go back to paving driveways," insisted Calzaghe.

"I've got no one to answer to. I've trained four world champions and I won trainer of the year in America for 2007."

Super-middleweight king Joe Calzaghe is Lockett's universally revered stablemate and on his American debut earlier this year, the 36-year-old defeated Bernard Hopkins in Las Vegas.

Boxing pundits had predicted a showdown between Calzaghe jnr and Pavlik in the wake of Calzaghe's narrow points victory over Hopkins.

But it's power-puncher Lockett that faces Pavlik at Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall on Saturday, 7 June.

And Calzaghe snr continued: "Loew had better hope and pray that Lockett doesn't slap like Joe because if he does it's going to be goodnight for Kelly Pavlik.

"All I can say is that Joe must slap pretty hard because he's knocked out 32 of his opponents and been an undefeated world champion for more than a decade.

"Ask Bernard Hopkins, Jeff Lacy and Mikkel Kessler if Joe Calzaghe slaps.

"When Pavlik is world champion for 11 years and has made 21 title defences like Joe then I will listen to Loew, but Pavlik hasn't even held his title for a year.

"He'd better make sure that he is double prepared or even triple prepared for Gary Lockett."

[digipoi]

They do slap thats for sure. Well Calzaghe does.

[Rappy Veteran]

Weigh Ins

Kelly Pavlik 159 vs Gary Lockett 159.5

(WBC/WBO middleweight championship)

Daniel Ponce De Leon 121 Juan Manuel Lopez 121

(WBO super bantamweight championship)

Kevin Mitchell 130 vs Walter Estrada 129

Eberto Medina 153 vs Arman Ovsepian 153

Gino Escamilla 119 vs Jorge Diaz 119

Gustabo Mejia 142 Demetrio Soto 142

Venue: Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, NJ

Promoter: Top Rank

TV: HBO

[+Gary7 Subscriber²]

Kelly is from my hometown so I will go with him.

[digipoi]

Kelly is from my hometown so I will go with him.

Like Kelly. He is a great workman. Makes the little guys feel good sometimes.

[Rappy Veteran]

Lockett got beat the hell up! Pavlik is a monster!

[digipoi]

Was having too much fun riding dirtbike with my 4 year old so I missed it and DVD recorder is jacked from the last UFC. Gotta watch HBO on demand tomorrow. Read the article and seems both fights weren't even competitive. Enzo Calzaghe must feel like an ass this year. All his fighters are losing except for Joe. Well, good job Pavlik, wonder who they will match you up with next? Winner of the Abraham vs Miranda II? He beat up Miranda the last time so it would be good to see him take on Abraham.

Edit...

Just found this on Fightnews.com

Pavlik-Calzaghe Oct 18?

By Matt Richardson

WBC/WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik's promoter Bob Arum says he is in talks with promoter Frank Warren in regard to a possible showdown between Pavlik and unbeaten WBC/WBA/WBO super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe. The target date for Pavlik-Calzaghe would be October 18. If that bout can't be made, Arum said Pavlik would fight two more times this year, in September and again in December. Adding fuel to the fire was Pavlik's destruction of Calzaghe's stablemate Gary Lockett, who is trained by Joe's father Enzo Calzaghe.

[Rappy Veteran]

That would be insane!

I really don't know who to pick for that fight.

[digipoi]

That would be insane!

I really don't know who to pick for that fight.

Well super craps to that notion then.

Calzaghe rejects Pavlik fight!

The proposed October 18 superfight between WBC/WBA/WBO super middleweight champ Joe Calzaghe and WBC/WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik appears to be off. "I think it's unlikely," Calzaghe told the South Wales Argus. "I'm not sure if Pavlik really wants to face me at the moment. He would have little to gain because I believe I would definitely beat him and, with respect to Gary Lockett, I would be a step-up too far for Pavlik." Calzaghe called a clash with Roy Jones Jr. "the right fight for me at the moment."

Friday, June 13 2008

Roy Jones? Damn I thought he would be too busy fighting chickens in Florida.

The people want to see Pavlik vs. Cal.

Watched that Hopkins vs. Cal fight again. Calzaghe is such a slapper. I liked when he beat up Lacy but his slaps as of late are lame.

Boxing = Punching

[Rappy Veteran]

It's clear Pavlik wants Cal what planet is he on?