Tough comeback for Gary Lockett

[bennie]

Gary Lockett returns to action on the big Cardiff bill featuring Joe Calzaghe and Enzo Maccarinelli on February 21 against tough Londoner Kreshnick Qato.
"I'm just glad to be back in action, and I'm looking forward to securing another title fight in 2004," said Lockett.
The Rocket Man's career stalled two years ago when he was beaten on points by Yuri Tsarenko at light-middleweight, and he has laboured in a stop-start middleweight campaign.

[Chambers]

I was at his last contest when he fought Michael Monaghan on the Calzaghe-Mitchell undercard, and he was soundly beat by Monaghan. I seem to remember his return match with Tsarenko was a poor performance and a controversial decision.

He looked a shadow of his former big punching self.

[Priff]

Hey, great news to hear he is coming back. Seemed like a very genuine and honest guy. I certainly wish him the best.

I thought he had retired but am glad he is giving it another go (specially with all those problems he had with his breathing etc).

Hope he's devised a plan 'B' for when, eventually, mid-fight, it becomes clear his supposed knockout punch power is not going to help him.

[bigynzing]

It seems that Lockett is just a puncher...with poor skills.and he even looks gun shy of late...not a good sihn for a hitter...i hope im wrong but i cant see Gary doing much out of the UK.

[steve689]

I also like Lockett and i hope he can return, he is a shadow of the puncher that god rid of Hussein Osman and Kevin Kelly with such ease and has struggled since moving up to Middleweight. Although saying that he has more or less gone to Super Middleweight given some of the weights he has been weighing in at recently. He needs a return with Monaghan just to set the record straight and clear the air i think, plus a fight like can't really do him any harm because at least Monaghan is a live opponent.

[DG.]

where did it all go wrong ?.

Was looking dynamite and I had it beating WA ( who lands 1st ) and Tak !.

The future loked bright until Tsarenko..

[Dynamite Dean Phillips]

Gary Lockett was in the same Wales squad as myself years back.

It is possible that he has burned himself out. I know a lot of very promising amateurs that were in the same era as myself and Lockett that have fallen victim to this.

Sometimes your body just needs a long rest!

[Kieran]

Weight is the answer.
Decent performer with power at Light Middle.
However the power at Middleweight just isn't there.
He had unbelievable problems making light middle - you will recall the living on baby food story.
I always feared the Tsarenko result.
Why ?
Because Ryan Rhodes won a points decision against him earlier and Tsarenko was a tough character.
Ryan gave him a stone advantage but prevailed.
Not before he had shouldered him in the eye, and pulled all the dirty tricks in the book - butts etc.
Unless Gary has expelled all of his demons, and his power is reborn, he faces a torrid time against Qato.

[steve richards]

Has lockett gone away?, he looked shot in his last couple of fights, but has'nt carried his big punch from light middle up to middle, when you see his reaction after the last couple of fights he looks like he's lost even when he has won, the fire does'nt lookm there, a few years ago they were talking about major titles, i think dean is right he may well need a year out the gym and then have another go, maybe try a good dietitian like ricky hatton and go at light middle again.

[Zhuge]

I seem to remember his return match with Tsarenko was a poor performance and a controversial decision.

Actually, I thought he won a sound decision against Tsarenko in the rematch. He took a beating the first time, and he boxed to a safe victory in the rematch. He showed a helluva lot of heart in the first match, but maybe it took too much out of him?

[THEBUTCH]

I love watching lockett, but it's true to say his form has dropped badly.

"DG." asked where did it all go wrong, and weight could well be the issue but I really think he should hook up with Colin Moorcroft again. Although he go bashed up in the first contest with Tsarenko and still thought he edged it and he definitely won the rematch. I think after the stunning win over Kevin Kelly they got a bit carried away and shouldn't have matched him with Tsarenko over 12. 8 would have been adequate.

Still i wish Lockett all the best and hope he can turn things around....even though he is on a winning run! Jees, don't boxers get written off so quickly these days?

[theguru]

Lockett is a nice guy but hasnt lived up to Franks expectations,now would you really want a comeback fight with a guy who beat Steven Bendall but didnt get the decision?

Unfortuntely it seems he is surplus to requirements,looks like if he gets through it, all well and good,if not dont expect him to fight for Sportsnetwork again.

[Dynamite Dean Phillips]

I know how those guys work!