Many boxing fans have already written off Gary Lockett’s chances of beating Kelly Pavlik when the pair fight in New Jersey this Saturday.
However, Lockett claims this is just the motivation he needs in order to topple Pavlik and win the middleweight crown.
Gary Lockett said:
“People have American tinted glasses and they think they’re unbeatable and have a god given right to top every weight division,”
“There’s no greater motivation for me and there’s nothing more dangerous than a guy with nothing to lose.”
This is Pavlik’s first defence of his WBO and WBC middleweight titles and he is obviously the clear favourite to beat Lockett, and beat him well. But Lockett is saying that despite Pavlik’s obvious confidence, there is no need for the negative comments:
“Negative comments aren’t worth listening to. I’m a working class lad and my dad taught me that if you have nothing positive to say then don’t say it.”
“But what I can’t believe is that they’ve got nothing to judge me on, I can’t believe people are writing me off before I start.
“Nobody expects me to go past two rounds against Pavlik so if the worst comes to the worse and I do get blasted out early, then so be it - write me off.”
“I’ve only been put down once in my whole career - amateur or professional, fighting or sparring.”
“I know I haven’t been in with a big-hitter like Kelly Pavlik before but I’m not going to beat myself before I’ve started. In my mind I believe I can beat him.”
When I look at these fighters there is a fairly decent gap between them to explain why Pavlik is the favourite. Lockett may have only lost one fight to split decision in November 2002 (to Yuri Tsarenko in a WBO Inter-Continental light middleweight title fight) but he hasn’t had to face big name, top class opponents. Kelly Pavlik on the other hand has fought and beaten the likes of Jermain Taylor, and so proved that he is a serious boxer and a deserving world champion and thats why I think he will still beat Lockett.
But if Lockett wants to go all out, then best of luck to him, this is what boxing is all about!
What do you think will happen between Locket and Pavlik on Saturday night?
Will we see a shock result in Atlantic City or not?
Pavlik takes nobody lightly, afterall, this is a fight. Whether it’s on the street or in a ring, this is a fight. One man’s will verus another man’s will. One man’s skill versus another man’s skill. Lockett deserves to be #1 contender in his own rite. Pavlik needs to show why he’s champ. Period.
Comment by Cburg — June 4, 2008 @ 6:48 pm
Lockett will be lucky if he doesnt leave the ring on a stretcher. In fact, Pavlik should knock both calzaghe and lockett out in the same night.
Comment by Smokey Joe — June 4, 2008 @ 7:37 pm