Did Kelly Pavlik Knock Lockett Into an Early Retirement?

After coming to America only to have his hopes of becoming a world champion completely shattered by a power punching specter, the  31 yr old Gary Lockett has had some time to re-evaluate things.

It looks like Lockett's life flashed before his eyes during his last three rounds of boxing. "I am considering my future," said Lockett in an interview with BBC Sports. "I still have my faculties and I want to spend time with my family."

We knew Kelly Pavlik packed a serious punch, but apparently he hits so hard that it makes some people rework there life's plans. Lockett must have seen the light during his fight with The Ghost and at some point decided that he doesn't want to go through anything like that again.

We can't blame him for hanging it up - near death experiences usually result in unalterably changing a person's view on life (plus he finally got a decent payday). 

Well, he wasn't really going to die, but he probably felt like it, enough to leave the sport that he has fought professionally in for twelve years. 

"Every time he threw punches, it felt like he was making me pay"

- Gary Lockett

Kelly Pavlik to fight Sergio Mora?

Since Joe Calzaghe has made it pretty clear that he wants none of The Ghost, the undisputed middleweight champion of the world will not be so quick to jump up to the super middleweight division. 

It now seems that Pavlik's camp has their eyes set on a title defense against the feather-handed season one Contender Champion and new WBC junior middleweight champion Sergio Mora. So yes Max Kellerman, The Ghost will stay at middleweight and "clean-up" the division as you so vigorously suggested after his last victory.

Mora is coming off a 12 round decision upset over the veteran Vernon Forrest this past month. Although he now holds the belt at junior middleweight, his natural fighting weight is at 160 lbs, and he has said that he would be willing to vacate his belt as soon as he gets a shot at the middleweight title.  

With his recent victory comes two mandatory fights, a rematch owed to Forrest that was stipulated in the original contract and a defense against the WBC mandatory challenger. However, if he vacates the belt (which he has already said he will do), neither of the matches would have to occur and he will have no problem negotiating for the fight with Pavlik to take place in September or October.

Bob Arum, Kelly Pavlik's trainer said that he "called both HBO and Showtime to advise them of the situation and that it looks like we'll be going to a Mora fight."  Which means we apparently won't have to wait long to see The Pride of Youngstown back in the ring after his devastating display against Gary Lockett.

The unifying title match for Pavlik that everyone and there mother has been talking about since this past weekend when Arthur Abraham KO'd top contender Edison Miranda, will have to wait until 2009. Abraham will have his hands full with a mandatory title defense in the coming months.  

Both Abraham and Pavlik have confirmed that they want the fight to happen, so there is no reason that it shouldn't, barring a loss from either fighter. 

Calzaghe vs. Jones: Pavlik Not Gonna Happen

The BBC reported that Joe Calzaghe's promoter, Frank Warren,  is currently working out a deal with former pound-for-pound #1 fighter, Roy Jones Jr. The fight, that Calzaghe claims will be his last, should take place sometime this fall. 

"Fighting the greatest fighter of the 1990's would be the perfect way to finish off my career... This is a case of famous last words, but I think that'll probably be it for me, so my message to my fans is enjoy it now because after this, it'll be the end." 

Calzaghe has also ruled out the possiblilty of a meeting between himself and the undisputed middleweight champion, Kelly Pavlik.  Pavlik is coming off a dominating 3rd round TKO victory over Calzaghe's training partner Gary Lockett. 

Joe admitted "that Pavlik is a good fighter and looked very impressive against Gary, but I'm in a different league" (money where the mouth is Joe).  " Kelly is just establishing himself and is not as big a star as Roy Jones, he's a legend."

So, it seems that Calzaghe will end his career with a victory over another over-the-hill fighter whose name will look great on his undefeated resume.  We do respect his decision to retire at age 37, having accomplished a great deal in his long career.  But, it's too bad that he is opting out of what could have been the fight of the decade. 

Kelly Pavlik vs Gary Lockett Recap

Just another day on the job for America's talented young phenom , Kelly The Ghost Pavlik.  As if he was hammering away at sheets of metal in one of Youngstown's steel factories, Kelly repeatedly pounded Gary Lockett until he was completely flattened.  

Half way into the third round, Enzo Calzaghe tossed in the universal sign of surrender after witnessing his fighter get knocked to the canvas three times and receive a healthy dose of punishment.  (See highlights)

The fight seemed to go exactly as planned for Pavlik who looked better than ever, connecting with punches from every angle on his way to an easy TKO victory. He put constant pressure on Lockett, landed a steady barrage of punches, and neutralized Lockett's supposed KO power with his lengthy frame.

It looks like the undefeated champ Arthur Abraham will be the next possible opponent for The Ghost (if he takes care of Edison Miranda on the 21st). As for Joe Calzaghe, it seems that he will be dancing with Roy Jones Jr. in the near future.  If those fights go as planned, then we will hopefully see the two face off in one of the biggest fights of the decade. 

Undercard: In the first round of the fight, Daniel Ponce De Leon was dropped by a right hook and relinquished his title to the undefeated young-stud of the division, Jaun Manuel Lopez. (Highlights)

Artwork by Adam Morris

Something for the Weekend Sir? Saturday Night Fights Preview

We cancelled all plans for this Saturday night based primarily on two reasons.  1.)  HBO and Showtime will be transmitting four outstanding boxing matches directly to the comfort of our living rooms   2.) Second and more importantly, my new roommate refuses to go to the cable company with me to pick up a DVR box for the house (cable bill's in his name and the damn company refuses to grant me access to the account, I've tried)  

With that said, there should be a mandate that forbids HBO and Showtime to hold major boxing events that fall on the same day of the lunar calendar.  Space em' out a little, so every weekend we can enjoy a good match or two instead of just crammin' it all in to one.  You would think that two of the largest television companies would have this worked out to prevent them from having to worry about competition from the other guy. 

Anyway, I think HBO wins this battle and, it seems this weekend's under-cards may be more exciting than the main events - here is this weekend's preview.

HBO

Kelly The Ghost Pavlik (33-0,  30 Ko's) vs Gary The Pocket Rocket Lockett (30-1, 21 Ko's) - The Pride of Youngstown, Kelly Pavlik, is currently the undisputed, undefeated, middleweight champion of the world. He is coming off a huge KO victory over #1 middleweight contender (at the time) in Edison Miranda and back-to-back dominate performances against the former undefeated, undisputed, best middleweight in the world, Jermain Taylor (not anymore; see Pavlik KO video here). 

Gary Lockett is coming off a fight against Kai Kauramaki, who is 13-15 with 9 of his losses coming by way of knock-out. Some seriously stiff competition there Lockett, excellent tune-up before getting in there with the best middleweight in the world.  

Lockett's record looks pretty on paper but it does not carry a single win of any significance.

- Pavlik KO's Lockett within 6 rounds-

The real story line in this fight lies in the identity of Lockett's trainer - one Enzo Calzaghe. You can bet Joe will be sitting ringside to see one of his training 'mates' getting his clock cleaned by The Ghost, setting up a possible super-fight between the two down the line. 

On Wednesday, Kelly discussed his thoughts on the current light heavyweight and super middleweight champ Joe Calzaghe with Max Kellerman. He was seemed as confident as I am about the outcome of a potential mega-fight with Joe C., another victory for Youngstown's finest.

Daniel Ponce De Leon (34-1, 30 Ko's) vs Juan Manuel Lopez (21-0, 19 Ko's) - The two meet on the under-card of the Pavlik/Lockett fight for the WBO super bantam weight title. Ponce De Leon will try to fend off up-and-coming Lopez in a high action, exciting, and closely matched bout -possibly the most interesting fight of the night. Do not miss this one. 

Showtime

Vernon Forrest (40-2, 29 Ko's) vs. Sergio The Latin Snake Mora (20-0-1, 5 Ko's) 

Don't expect to be writing home after this WBC light middleweight title bout. Vernon Forrest is coming off a long layoff due to an injury and, at age 37,  isn't getting any younger.  Sergio Mora is coming off a few recent fights that were mediocre at best, one of which he should have lost but was awarded a mercy decision (against Elvin Ayala).  And the begging for a shot at a title then turning down a championship bout against Jermain Taylor a few years back caused him to lose the little credibility that he once had. 

Neither fighter is a big puncher and both will be looking to go the distance for a decision. If you have to pick one to DVR, you're looking at it.

Paul The Punisher Williams (33-1, 24 Ko's) vs. Carlos Quintana (25-1, 19 Ko's) - Paul Williams will attempt to reclaim the WBO welterweight championship from the man who took it from him and handed him his only loss.  

Before the somewhat stunning upset at the beginning of the year, Williams was considered by many to be the top welterweight in the division and a direct threat to Floyd Mayweather (he was obviously overrated).  Coming off a win against the always tough Antonio Margarito, Williams looked ready to sit atop the division until Quintana exposed the lengthy boxer's weaknesses and took the belt from him. Quintana is no slouch though, his only loss came when he managed to get his face beat in by Miguel Cotto in a 5th round stoppage. 

If Williams overlooked Quintana the first time, it will not happen again on Saturday.  Look for him to come out fighting for his life to regain his belt. Should be a good one.