Did Locket really give it his "best shot"?

[Shirow]

The fact that Lockett has a family and doesn't like boxing means we should accept luke warm performance. If he decided that this was a retirement fight in advance (conciously or otherwise) then i don't think he could have summoned up anything more though.
I don't believe anyone looked down on Vazquez for quitting in the first Marquez fight.
Can you imagine the difference pulling out a victory against Pavlik would have meant to his business aspirations & family? He really had nothing to lose & everything to gain. If he'd gone all out to land a big shot on target and capitulated once he was exhausted or was taking too many flush shots back i don't think anyone would feel shortchanged.
Even Peter McNeilly went out to take Tyson's head off, no doubt he knew how it would end up but it would was going to end up the same way even if he didn't give it his all.

Edit I've just watched the fight again and i think i may have been a little harsh on Lockett. Like Enzo was saying i thought Kelly was just teeing off because Lockett wasn't doing much of anything. Pavlik was technically very astute and beat Lockett on every level. Lockett's gameplan wasn't terrible but he was just not good enough. He might have been better served to use Hatton's technique when he can't match up technically just get close grapple and bang in hard punches when possible.
It was actually a very long 2.5 rounds for Gary & he did try and rally a little in the 3rd but when he fought a little harder he got hit a little more.

[Scrap]

Looking at his face before the fight told me his bottle had gone before the bell.

[Asterix]

Lockett was just out of his depth. The best shots he threw were all blocked by Pavlik. Gary's face was getting absolutely hammered - his face will have looked terrible in the days after the fight. I wouldn't have liked to have seen that go on much longer. He was being stunned with every shot. Even when Gary tried to block shots, he still took the shots flush. Nothing had worked for him and it was best to get him out of there. He was surrounded by punches and it got to the point where he couldn't protect himself. He tried but nothing worked and Enzo Cal ended it, very wisely.

I agree completely. I have a lot of respect for Lockett for getting in the ring with Pavlik and giving it his best shot. Criticism is not warranted.

[Captain Hook]

Gary was not up to the mark and was beaten-up, plain and simple.

But he has always been honest.

For Teddy and co to ridicule him and question his integuirty is bang out of order.

To call him a bottler from the comfort of your keyboard isn't exactly brave pal....

[stujones]

The shots landing on Lockett looked especially painful to me. He did the right thing in getting out.

This isn't Rocky, it's a mans career and well being. Nothing Lockett could have thrown would have turned that fight around. Walter Estrada had far more left to test Mitchell with but I don't see the word bottle next to his name.

Well two things.

1) Estrada, like Gary (to his credit) got up but in the Estrada case the ref didn't think he was in good enough shape to continue.

2) Walter bottled it against Harrison, and I think when the going gets tough - he gets going. So yes, he is a bottler.

[MightyWarrior]

Lockett could have stayed down, but got up three times to face his executioner. Anyone who questions his heart has never boxed - no doubt about that. Remember him going the distance in his only other loss, face swollen like a gargoyle. There's no quit in him.

[Captain Hook]

Well said.

I can't believe some of the bollocks these lads talk. It takes balls to step in through the ropes, even journeymen deserve credit for showing the grit to get in there.

Lockett was beaten by the better man in the ring, but there are not many better out of it IMO.

[Coco]

The heading of this topic is "Did Locket really give it his "best shot"?" and in my opinion if that was his best shot then he is some sort of c*nt.

Mate your getting out of order now, you have made your point a number of times already, stick to boxing talk

[Cap]

I wasn't interested in seeing a one-sided slaughter. Lockett's corner saw he was way out of his depth and threw in the towel. What's the big deal? Only a mentally defective sadist who knows nothing about boxing would want to see a guy get his head handed to him when he obviously has no chance to win.

[Matt W]

Any criticism should be made at those that sanctioned the match, not at Lockett IMO. Lockett was way out of his depth and was brutalised in there. He took his opportunity and fair play to him, you have to take your opportunities in life. He soon realised he was in way over his head and nothing he did remotely bothered Pavlik. Personally I can't fault Lockett for that. Yes, he was mentally beaten early, no doubt when he realised that nothing he could do would work and would be answered painfully by Pavlik.

[Captain Hook]

"sod this, I can always to back to Cardiff and defend my WBU world title. At least Mrs. Jones next door think's I'm a real world champ."

One of 43 shite posts

[Coco]

This forum is about opinions, strong opinions yes, not character assinations

[assassin]

just watched the fight and can't believe how anyone can blame Lockett for not doing his best.

After reading some opinions i was expecting to see him just sit in his shell and get battered without firing anything back then quitting as soon as the going got tough.

Lockett was throwing punches right until the end, in the 2nd when he had been laced with some very hurtful punches he was still trying to fire a right hand over Pavlik's jab.

It was clear he was outgunned and he was being hurt with every shot Pavlik threw but no way did he quit. It's all too easy to say 'he should have done this and that' but when you are in the ring, the loneliest place in the world, and you are getting punished by someone much bigger and stronger than you, it's a different story.

Lockett got battered with heavy shots, got his face busted up, and was still throwing punches back right till the end, even though he must have known he wasn't ever gonna hurt Pavlik.

What more do some of you want from the man? Just cause he wasn't clean ko'd doesn't mean he wasn't getting seriously hurt at the time of the stoppage.

Lockett had his chance, wasn't good enough, took a beating, and deserves his payday

[Captain Hook]

"sod this, I can always to back to Cardiff and defend my WBU world title. At least Mrs. Jones next door think's I'm a real world champ."

One of 43 shite posts

WHY

You think that is an opinion?

[chris_23]

The heading of this topic is "Did Locket really give it his "best shot"?" and in my opinion if that was his best shot then he is some sort of c*nt.

This guy is just a clown, a sad little f*** hiding behind his keyboard trying to shoot people down. I really just don't understand people like this and I hope I never do...

absolute f***ing arse!

[chris_23]

Gary was not up to the mark and was beaten-up, plain and simple.

But he has always been honest.

For Teddy and co to ridicule him and question his integuirty is bang out of order.

To call him a bottler from the comfort of your keyboard isn't exactly brave pal....

spot on!!!!

[chris_23]

Lockett was just out of his depth. The best shots he threw were all blocked by Pavlik. Gary's face was getting absolutely hammered - his face will have looked terrible in the days after the fight. I wouldn't have liked to have seen that go on much longer. He was being stunned with every shot. Even when Gary tried to block shots, he still took the shots flush. Nothing had worked for him and it was best to get him out of there. He was surrounded by punches and it got to the point where he couldn't protect himself. He tried but nothing worked and Enzo Cal ended it, very wisely.

I agree completely. I have a lot of respect for Lockett for getting in the ring with Pavlik and giving it his best shot. Criticism is not warranted.

Quite correct!! Getting in with the main man in your division is a massive task and deserves respect. I really don't get some of the people on this forum with their comments, crazy.

Enzo did the right thing because he was getting hurt and unless you are some sort of odd ball you don't want to see that.

[Coco]

I dont hide behind anything i live in moston manchester telephone number 07530755715 call me if you have a problem, get it into your head any middleweight in the world would get in with pavlik and give it a go unlike Gary Lockett.

Lol perhaps who can take on Gary in his homecoming WBU defence!
You can judge what sort of 'c*nt' he is for yourself then!

[Captain Hook]

I dont hide behind anything i live in moston manchester telephone number 07530755715 call me if you have a problem, get it into your head any middleweight in the world would get in with pavlik and give it a go unlike Gary Lockett.

Oh dear, another keyboard warrior.....

Get a life mate....

[chris_23]

I dont hide behind anything i live in moston manchester telephone number 07530755715 call me if you have a problem, get it into your head any middleweight in the world would get in with pavlik and give it a go unlike Gary Lockett.

Lol perhaps who can take on Gary in his homecoming WBU defence!
You can judge what sort of 'c*nt' he is for yourself then!

LOL

What a clown! C'mon mate get a grip, perhaps you'd like to include your full name and address so we can send you turds in the post LOL....

[DavidPayne]

...is teddy the narrator from the A-Team?

[Dioufy]

I must same him putting his number has made me laugh - kudos to Teddy, top lad.

[Captain Hook]

Is all i'm saying is if chris has a problem with anything i have said say it to me not on this forum and i will gladly listen and give him my reasons why.

I just rang that number and got through to a call centre in Bangkok. Something about "loving me long time"

Any ideas....?

[banjo]

I dont hide behind anything i live in moston manchester telephone number 07530755715 call me if you have a problem, get it into your head any middleweight in the world would get in with pavlik and give it a go unlike Gary Lockett.

That number is not working

[banjo]

Is all i'm saying is if chris has a problem with anything i have said say it to me not on this forum and i will gladly listen and give him my reasons why.

I just rang that number and got through to a call centre in Bangkok. Something about "loving me long time"

Any ideas....?

I'm glad it didn't work for me then