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By CompuBox - One of the rites of passage a young champion seeking superstardom must navigate is a fight against a European contender, and such is the scenario facing WBC middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik. On June 7 in Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall the "Buckeye ****er" (33-0, 29 KO) will take on mandatory challenger Gary Lockett of Wales (30-1, 21 KO) as part of HBO's "World Championship Boxing." Pavlik is a prohibitive 16-to-1 favorite to dispose of Lockett and consider a superfight with another Welshman – light heavyweight champion Joe Calzaghe.
Two fights featuring Lockett provide some statistical insight as to his chances of blocking a potential Calzaghe-Pavlik meeting. On July 8, 2006 in Cardiff, Lockett defeated Ryan Rhodes by unanimous decision, and both his best and worst assets were on display. Lockett proved himself a fast starter as he dropped Rhodes in the first 30 seconds with a hook to the top of the head, and in the first two rounds he surged to a 50-16 lead in overall connects and a 41-13 advantage in landed power punches. But Rhodes, who constantly switched from orthodox to southpaw and back, regained his sea legs in the third and managed to hang in during the middle rounds as he registered double-digit connects in rounds five through eight – something he had done just once in the first four rounds. [details]
Two fights featuring Lockett provide some statistical insight as to his chances of blocking a potential Calzaghe-Pavlik meeting. On July 8, 2006 in Cardiff, Lockett defeated Ryan Rhodes by unanimous decision, and both his best and worst assets were on display. Lockett proved himself a fast starter as he dropped Rhodes in the first 30 seconds with a hook to the top of the head, and in the first two rounds he surged to a 50-16 lead in overall connects and a 41-13 advantage in landed power punches. But Rhodes, who constantly switched from orthodox to southpaw and back, regained his sea legs in the third and managed to hang in during the middle rounds as he registered double-digit connects in rounds five through eight – something he had done just once in the first four rounds. [details]
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