Pavlik waiting for final decision

By Joe Scalzo

There are conditional deals with several possible
opponents, but not with Gary Lockett.

Since turning pro seven years ago, Kelly Pavlik has learned one immutable fact about boxing: Contracts mean more than words.

So, as reports filtered out Thursday that he’d make his first middleweight title defense against Gary Lockett June 7 at Madison Square Garden, Pavlik was in no hurry to start gathering information on the relatively unknown fighter from Wales.

“I’ll wait until it’s official,” Pavlik said Thursday. “I don’t want to get my mind set on one guy then have it switch.

“I just go about my own business. Whoever they put in front of me, that’s who I’ll fight.”

Although no contracts have been signed — Top Rank chairman Bob Arum said his focus is on the March 15 bout between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez — a source close to the negotiations confirmed Lockett will be Pavlik’s opponent provided the money can be worked out.

Pavlik’s trainer, Jack Loew, was told Tuesday night that Lockett had emerged as the choice between four prospective opponents. Two of those fighters, Giovanni Lorenzo and Marco Antonio Rubio, are still options, Arum said.

“This isn’t done,” said Arum. “We’re still lining up opponents, then we’ll talk with Cameron [Dunkin, Pavlik’s co-manager] and the Pavliks and decide on which is the best deal.

“Lockett is attractive, but Giovanni Lorenzo isn’t out of it and neither is Rubio. We have to get the numbers in order and all that sort of stuff. We have plenty of time.”

Pavlik (33-0, 29 KOs), who holds the WBC and WBO titles, would fulfill his defense obligations against either Lorenzo (rated No. 1 by the WBC) or Lockett (the WBO’s No. 1). Because his 12-round decision over Jermain Taylor last month wasn’t a title defense, Pavlik said doesn’t have as much leeway when it comes to his next opponent.

“If the last fight had been a title defense, we might have had a little more say-so,” he said.

Arum said he talked to Lockett’s promoter earlier in the week, “but he hasn’t been back to me.”

“It will get done when it gets done,” said Arum. “We’re in no real hurry. We have plenty of time. We just want to do what’s best for Kelly.”

Arum said he already has a conditional contract signed by Rubio, “so he’s locked up if we want him.”

“We’re trying to do the same with Lockett and Lorenzo,” said Arum. “Then Kelly, Cameron and Mike [Pavlik, Kelly’s father and co-manager] will pick who they want.”

If Pavlik fights Lockett — and right now it appears he will — a lot of observers will no doubt be asking, “Gary Who?”

The 31-year-old Lockett (30-1, 21 KOs) has never fought in the United States — 30 of his bouts were fought inside the United Kingdom — and he’d likely be a heavy underdog in the bout.

But, Loew cautioned, don’t overlook underdogs.

“We were Gary Lockett at one point,” he said. “No one had ever heard of us. That’s why we never underestimate anyone.”

Besides, now that Pavlik is the champion, he’s going to get everyone’s best shot, Loew said.

“It’s an opportunity of a lifetime, that’s how we look at it,” Loew said. “It’s like when teams play Cardinal Mooney. Every high school that has Mooney on their schedule has a Mooney week. That’s the situation we’re in.

“Kelly’s the hottest thing in boxing. Anyone who beats him is going to be on the cover of every boxing magazine in the country.”

scalzo@vindy.com