-Gary Lockett-

"Gary who?"  That's what most of us in the room were asking ourselves at today's pre-fight presser.  After all, Kelly Pavlik has soundly solidified his name into the upper crust of this sport in the last six months.  His two victories over long time rival Jermain Taylor were each highlighted on HBO's BAD series thrusting him as the man to beat in the always tough Middleweight division. 
 
Since winning a version of the Middleweight Title back in 2005, Pavlik hasn't exactly been fighting bums and outside of Bronco McKart he hasn't been staring across the ring at has-beens.  Thus, if there ever were a time to grant an unknown up-and-comer a "similar" title shot which was granted HIM by Taylor - now may be the time. 
 
To be truthful, it was actually supposed to be John Duddy squaring up against Pavlik.  Yet, injuries suffered in his previous outing against a relative unknown Walid Smichet kept him in Ireland bandaged up while creating this humongous opportunistic circumstance for Lockett.  Welcome to America Gary Lockett!
 
"But wait a minute", one might say - "Gary Lockett has won *30 fights - and he beat Kevin Kelly!" Yes, he has won thirty professional boxing matches most of which took place in Wales - (Cardiff to be exact) and the "Kevin Kelly" he defeated was theirs, not ours.  So let's not get our hopes up here.
 
If Lockett has anything going for him it may be the fact that he's recently acquired Enzo Calzaghe to train and prepare him for Pavlik.  Just to feel him out, I asked Lockett if he's currently getting valuable ring work with Joe in preparations for Pavlik.  "Yes", he said, "It hasn't been easy but I've sparred hundreds of rounds with Joe."  Hmm.  Too bad, Joe Calzaghe is an in your face, "drift-to-his-right" southpaw with a polar opposite style from Kelly Pavlik in regards to "busy"ness.  In fact, I think the only thing Calzaghe and Pavlik have in common is the fact that both are undefeated - so perhaps it may not be too bad to keep him around.
 
At the end of the day this is Boxing and basically anybody who steps in the ring (with the possible exception of a few of Butterbean's opponents) can hurt you.  Although I cannot for the life of me fathom the idea of this particular Welshman beating Kelly Pavlik - he DID beat Kevin Kelly!!
 
Pavlik wins in 2.
 

Ricky Ray Taylor