Pavlik Launches “The Rocket Man”
Now Looks to Calzaghe!

By: Ian Webb

June 7th, Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey: Kelly “the Ghost “ Pavlik defended his WBO and WBC middleweight titles stopping Joe Calzaghe's stablemate, Gary “The Rocket Man” Lockett. Lockett was exactly what most thought, an opponent.
Lockett tested the two handed power punching champion and crash landed three times before trainer Enzo Calzaghe threw in the towel.The Youngstown puncher wasted no punches tagging the Welshman with a one, two then unloading an uncontested assault dropping Lockett to his knees twice in the second round.

In the third round the “Rocket Man” was put into orbit by some solid rights causing referee Eddie Cotton to call it on the advice of the corner at 1:40 of round three.

The semi main event featured a battle of southpaws with WBO Super Bantamweight Champion Daniel Ponce de Leon’s making his seventh defense against Puerto Rico's Juan Manuel Lopez.

The champion came out hard landing some clean jab, straight left combo’s then about halfway through the round the Puerto Rican challenger landed a counter straight left, right hook dropping the champion like a bag of potatoes. The young champion made to his feet looking like a sickly spruce in a wind storm. The champion ran into another straight left, right hook planting the him for the second time causing referee Mike Ortega to call the action at 2:25 of the first round.

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Championship Action on the Boardwalk
Kelly Pavlik vs Gary Lockett
and
Daniel Ponce DeLeon vs Juan Manuel Lopez

Youngstown, Ohio’s undefeated Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik 33-0, 29 Ko’s, will be back at the Boardwalk in Atlantic City, the site of his middleweight championship victory over Jermaine Taylor to make his first defense of his WBC and WBO middleweight titles.

”The Ghost” is coming in off back-to-back wins over former middleweight champ Jermain Taylor and will defend his title against the tough Gary “The Rocket Man” Lockett 30-1, 21 Ko’s from Cwmbran, Wales. Locket having only fought in the Uk was 90-8 as an amateur is on a fourteen win run over mediocre opponents.

In a night of title defenses the semi main event will feature junior featherweight champion Daniel Ponce De Leon 34-1, 30 Ko’s will be making his sixth defense against undefeated thoroughbred “Juanma” Juan Manuel Lopez 21-0, 19 Ko’s in a scheduled 12rounder. Lopez was a 2000 Olympian and five-time Puerto Rican national champion.