World Middleweight Champion Kelly Pavlik (33-0,29 KO's) will be fighting against the unknown Gary Lockett (30-1,21KO's) on June 7 at Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall.
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| Kelly Pavlik could have his hands full in June with an unknown. |
Pavlik started training harder than ever before after the Jermaine Taylor fight. He said the Taylor fight took alot out if him and he needed to recondition himself. Pavlik expresses: "Lockett looks to be a worthy opponent but make no mistake we're not going to take him lightly either. I don't see the belt going across the pond." Pavlik was supposed to fight John Duddy, but Duddy was cut and had to be scratched from much anticipated match. Pavlik and his camp went from Mexico, to the Bronx and abroad in search of a boxer with some experience and came up with Gary Lockett who had five recent wins under his belt.
Pavlik being a tall guy has to confront Lockett face to face in the ring. Pavlik is a jabber and Lockett is a straight forward boxer. Both fighters have a large following and they expect to draw in a good crowd. Joe Calzaghe's father is the trainer of Gary Lockett. that explains why Lockett is so aggressive in his game plan, and is eager to climb up the ladder to make it to the top. Gary lockett describes his trainer as a sadist.
"He punches your face until you've become pain resistant." I wanted to know how a nice guy like Lockett became a boxer? "My dad pushed me into the sport, but the main reason I did it ,is for the money. When I was young I couldn't afford to train at a boxing gym so I worked with my father in construction. After that I trained and won my first fight. I have a 19-month-old son and no, I wouldn't want my son to follow in my footsteps.
"Boxing is a hard and brutal sport. I want him to be successful doing something else. Sure children have to defend themselves, but I box for financial reasons. Boxing was the only opportunty I was presented with. Growing up I saw other kids turn to drugs, drinking and crime, and I chose boxing as a way out, to keep away from that environment," he added. "I own property, and I've invested in the property so that when I retire I have something to fall on.I don't understand how some boxers squander their millions and set nothing aside for their future and for the future of their family. You need to plant a foundation for the future. Right now I look forward to spend every precious moment with my son. As for myself, I'm simple guy living a simple life. I like watching Al Pacino, Robert DiNiro movies, the Sopranos, I listen to Paul Weller, The Smyths, read a good read, like The Underboss by Sammy the bull Gravano, I eat healthy, lots of chicken and greens, protein food. Boxing has been an experience for me. It's a time in my life I will never forget. One time I wish I could forget was when I was all taped up and the gloves were on my hands and I said to my trainer, I gotta go, he looked at me in horror. Here we are minutes away from entering the ring and I begged, I have to wee wee. My father turned and ran away. My trainer was the one that gave me a helping hand."
