BoxRec

Gary Lockett's talk leading up to the fight makes me think that Pavlik has an easy fight, but if Lockett's wily he could just be saying it on the off-chance Pavlik won't take him as seriously as he should.

I wouldn't worry too much about that happening

Terry D wrote:I've been ready Lockett's claims. Wow, not saying you have to be in love with boxing but that is a real kick in the teeth for other fighters in the division.

Lockett does not like boxing, Enzo Calzaghe does not watch fights in preparation, although strangely always has a bit to say aobut styles/fighters.

I thought this fight was a great one for the division and it is in principle, Champion versus traditional contender, pity they have brought in a guy who is only in the fight for the money though.

Lockett and Calzaghe Sr have definitely been watching Pavlik's previous fights. Lockett said he wants to capitalise on Pavlik's weaknesses.

I'm a big Pavilk fan and love his attitude. Taking on Miranda head first, coming back against Taylor in the 1st fight, I really hope he takes on Abraham before he steps up to super middle.

Although Lockett is British i'm not hoping he wins. I can hardly see a world champ willing to take on all comers in classic fights if he does.

Terry D wrote:

Asterix wrote:

Terry D wrote:I've been ready Lockett's claims. Wow, not saying you have to be in love with boxing but that is a real kick in the teeth for other fighters in the division.

Lockett does not like boxing, Enzo Calzaghe does not watch fights in preparation, although strangely always has a bit to say aobut styles/fighters.

I thought this fight was a great one for the division and it is in principle, Champion versus traditional contender, pity they have brought in a guy who is only in the fight for the money though.

Lockett and Calzaghe Sr have definitely been watching Pavlik's previous fights. Lockett said he wants to capitalise on Pavlik's weaknesses.

Must just be for Joe's fights then.

Yeah, I think so. Hopefully Enzo learnt his lesson when the Hopkins fight didn't go according to plan.

Terry D wrote:I imagine they never in a million years thought Hopkins would spoil and pick his shots well. When he did I almost fell off my couch as I expected Hopkins to be a mad bastard attacking force, he said he was going to be pre-fight.

He fought as I expected, though I didn't think he'd knock Joe down; that got me really worried. Enzo said he was expecting Hopkins to spoil, but Joe didn't seem to have a plan worked out for that (though I imagine Hopkins spoiling is probably one of the hardest things to counter).

Terry D wrote:I imagine they never in a million years thought Hopkins would spoil and pick his shots well. When he did I almost fell off my couch as I expected Hopkins to be a mad bastard attacking force, he said he was going to be pre-fight.

If Lockett runs Pavlik close, then it scuppers Calzaghe vs Pavlik IMO as a sellable fight.

This is a no lose situation for Gary, and everything to lose situation for Pavlik.

If Lockett wins then it'll make mugs out of a lot of us. He's not in Pavlik's class at all but I give him some chance of an upset simply because of the way Pavlik fights, he's not impossible to hit or hurt so there's always that factor.

But Pavlik really should dismantle him.

Pavlik will knock him out.

Gray-Fox wrote:Pavlik will knock him out.

Not just knock him out, he'll beat the living shit out of him. Gary Lockett isn't the best middleweight in Britain, he's going to get beaten up.

I have nothing against Lockett and i wish him all the best, but the fact he has got a shot at the recognised world number one is a farce. He has beaten nobody of note to earn a crack at anything purporting to be a world crown. He has kept winning and is on an unbeaten streak but then again so is Albert Sosnowski.

This title shot is political, nothing more, nothing less. No eliminator, no world class win, not even a British/Commonwealth/European title tilt. Straight in against the world's best.

Putting that gripe aside, good luck to the man and i hope he does himself proud.

Were Lockett to win, would this validate playing the WBO title game?

Which fight was it that got Gary so high up in the rankings? Was it the last one, Kai Caramacky?

That said, Gary is a compact pro, seemingly well schooled, and should be able to make for some good fights. Hopefully he's in one tonight. For once I don't think we'll be seeing an Enzo Calzaghe fighter pulling straight back. I reckon we'll see Gary step in, fight short, and try and nail Pavlik when Kelly leans forward trying to punch down to him.

Pav in 2 rounds.