Pavlik-Lockett Set to Clash!
June 7th in Atlantic City...



Undisputed world middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik and the World Boxing Organization's number one-ranked mandatory challenger Gary Lockett are gearing up for their middleweight championship showdown which takes place June 7th at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

"It's going to be an exciting fight," Pavlik told reporters at a news conference at BB King's Blues Club and Grill in New York City.

"We're not going to take him lightly," Jack Loew, Pavlik's trainer told reporters. "We're going to train him just as hard as we did with Jermain Taylor."

"Not too long ago (Lockett and I) were in the same boat," Pavlik said, referring to his seven-year climb towards middleweight champion. "It wasn't that long ago that I was the number one contender. I know the hunger Lockett has for my title." Pavlik TKO'ed Taylor in the seventh round in September 2007 to claim the world middleweight championship and decisioned Taylor in their rematch in February.

"You haven't heard of me, any of you," said Lockett addressing the press. Lockett makes his U.S. debut against Pavlik. "I'm a knockout puncher," Lockett said. "I've always been able to knock people out." Lockett is riding a 14-bout unbeaten streak and 70 percent of his opponents have lost to him by knockout.

Lockett, the underdog in the fight, has been knocked down only once as an amateur or pro, and that was against Ryan Rhodes in July 2006. His nickname - "The Rocket Man" - is from a series of early knockouts he scored in beginning of his career.

Normally when I fight I'm the aggressor," Lockett, who hasn't lost a fight in five years, told reporters. Lockett said he respects Pavlik's unpretentious style. But the Welshman knows he will be looking at mirror this time. "We're going to be right in each others' faces."

"Kelly Pavlik showed in his last fight he is on his road to becoming a superstar," said Bob Arum, chairman of Top Rank. "But now Kelly faces a tough test against the No. 1 mandatory challenger, Gary Lockett!"

"Gary can punch and Pavlik doesn't have the best of defenses," said Frank Warren, Lockett's promoter. "But it's a great opportunity for Lockett. Now it's up to him to do the rest."

"My last two victories over Jermain Taylor proved that I wasn't just the world middleweight champion, but the best man in the game, pound for pound," Pavlik stated. "I promised the fans I would be an active champion and that I wouldn't duck anyone, and I intend to live up to that pledge."