Pavlik set to defend vs. Lockett on Saturday!
By FightFan News Wire (04-Jun-2008)

This Saturday HBO presents a dynamic double header as middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik takes on Gary Lockett with sensational prospect Juan Manuel Lopez challenging dangerous WBO 122 pound champion Daniel Ponce De Leon as the co-main event!

This Saturday night undefeated rising star Kelly Pavlik (33-0, 29 KOs), from Youngstown, Ohio, returns to Atlantic City – where he captured his middleweight crown – for his first title defense against Gary Lockett (30-1, 21 KOs), from Cwmbran, Wales, in a scheduled 12-round contest. Pavlik is coming off back-to-back wins against former middleweight champ Jermain Taylor; their memorable showdown in September 2007 was named “Fight of The Year” by the Boxing Writers Association of America. Making his American debut, Lockett also hails from an industrial town, but in the south of Wales. He’s on a six-year, 14-fight undefeated streak, and hasn’t lost since 2002. In addition to his near-perfect professional career, Lockett compiled an impressive amateur record of 90-8.

“My world title reign is going to be no different than my world title climb. I’m going to keep fighting the best men out there,” said Pavlik. “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. 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. It wasn’t that long ago that I was the number one contender. I know the hunger Lockett has for my title. It’s back to the “factory” for me for heavy training. I will be 150% for this fight!”

“This fight has got all the ingredients for a good old-fashioned punch-up,” said Lockett. I know I’m going to be a massive underdog because, worldwide, I’m very, very unknown. But I’m a lot tougher than people think. I’ve got a good chin and I can pack a wallop myself. And I’ve got the best trainer in the business in Enzo Calzaghe. Pavlik is among the best pound-for-pound but he looks beatable. He’s no Superman, he has plenty of flaws and we will put together an effective system to beat him.”

“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, who has battled hard and has won 14 fights in a row. He has not lost a fight in over five years.”

“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.”

“‘Kelly Pavlik is one of the premier prizefighters in the sport today” said Kery Davis, Senior VP of Programming for HBO Sports. “It’s great to present his first title defense live on our flagship series. Gary Lockett has the opportunity to show his heart and skill in challenging for the one of the most coveted titles in the sport.”

Daniel Ponce De Leon vs. Juan Manuel Lopez

In the opening bout, junior featherweight champion Daniel Ponce De Leon (34-1, 30 KOs) battles undefeated top-ranked contender Juan Manuel Lopez (21-0, 19 KOs) in a scheduled 12-round bout. Originally from Cuauhtemoc, Mexico, and now residing in Huntington Park, Cal., De Leon will be making his sixth title defense since winning the belt in 2005; he fought for Mexico in the 2000 Olympic Games. Lopez, from Caguas, Puerto Rico, represented his homeland at the 2004 Olympics, and has quickly risen in the rankings since turning pro in 2005. As an amateur, he was a five-time Puerto Rican national champion.

De Leon is riding a three-year, 10-bout winning streak, including six defenses of the WBO junior featherweight title he has held since 2005. A 2000 Mexican Olympian and five-time national champion, De Leon, a natural southpaw, is known for his aggressive style, constant pressure, and strong punching power. His best world title victories have been over previously undefeated contenders Rey Bautista and Sod Looknongyabtoy, and two-division world champion Gerry Penalosa.

Lopez has held the WBO Latino junior featherweight title since 2006. A member of Puerto Rico’s 2004 Olympic team, Lopez has climbed to the top of the ratings in an incredibly short amount of time. To say he is on a tear is no understatement inasmuch as he hasn’t gone the distance since June 10, 2006, knocking out his last nine opponents while garnering rave reviews and comparisons to Puerto Rico’s finest world champions, including Miguel Cotto, Felix Trinidad and Wilfredo Gomez. A natural southpaw, like De Leon, Lopez’s arsenal features good punching power and an aggressive, pressuring style of fighting.

HBO Sports presents two championship fights on the Boardwalk when WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING: KELLY PAVLIK VS. GARY LOCKETT AND DANIEL PONCE DE LEON VS. JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ is seen live SATURDAY, JUNE 7 (10:05 p.m. ET/7:05 p.m. PT) from The Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, on HBO..

The WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING team of Jim Lampley, Max Kellerman and Emanuel Steward will be ringside for the event, which will be presented in HDTV and in Spanish on HBO Latino.

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