Pavlik, Lockett likely at Garden

By Joe Scalzo

The official announcement is expected to come on
Tuesday.

Since turning pro seven years ago, Kelly Pavlik has fought 33 fights in 15 different states.

He’s fought in famous cities (Las Vegas) and not-so-famous cities (Uncasville, CT anyone?).

He’s fought locally (Liberty, Struthers, Niles and Youngstown) and in the middle of nowhere (raise your hand if you’re planning to spend your next vacation at the Lucky Star Casino in Concho, OK).

But he’s never fought at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

It looks like that’s about to change.

Barring any unforeseen problems, Pavlik (33-0, 29 KOs) will make his first middleweight title defense against Welshman Gary Lockett on June 7 at MSG. Pavlik’s handlers are still working out the details but an official announcement is expected Tuesday.

Atlantic City made a strong push to host the fight, but the Garden countered with an offer “too good to pass up,” according to a source familiar with the negotiations.

Pavlik said he was fine with either site — both are close enough to accommodate Youngstown-area fans who want to make the trip — but he preferred New York.

“I was kind of hoping that’s where it would be,” Pavlik said earlier in the week. “To fight in Madison Square Garden would be awesome.”

Pavlik has twice been to the Garden — both times to attend Miguel Cotto bouts — and came away impressed.

“I just sat there looking at the bleachers and all the people,” Pavlik said.

His trainer, Jack Loew, has never been to the Garden, although he’s certainly tried. He was supposed to make his first trip in November but the trip was canceled after Pavlik cut his hands trying to repair a window at his house.

Then, two weeks ago, Loew and Pavlik were planning to attend Duddy’s fight against Walid Smichet at MSG but their flight was canceled due to bad weather. Duddy sustained cuts in that fight, forcing Top Rank to cancel Pavlik’s bout with the Irishman at the Garden in June.

“I just thought, ‘Maybe I wasn’t meant to go there,’ ” Loew said. “But to me, if you’re a boxer, you’ve gotta fight at the Garden.”

After the Duddy cancellation, Top Rank shelved plans for a Garden fight due to the arena’s considerable cost. Atlantic City then entered the picture, but the Garden countered with its strong offer. New York will cost a little more, both for tickets and hotels, but Top Rank Boxing officials are confident Youngstown fans will still make the trip.

Lockett (30-1, 21 KOs) has never fought in the U.S. — his only bout outside the United Kingdom was in Italy — and is scheduled to meet Andreas Kotelnik in a tune-up bout in Wales on March 22.

Pavlik, meanwhile, will start training for the June bout on April 14, Loew said.

“That gives us eight weeks,” Loew said.

Pavlik’s bout with Jermain Taylor last month was fought at the 166-pound “catch weight,” but he’ll return to 160 for this bout.

At 6-foot-2, Pavlik knows he’s too big to stay at the middleweight level forever, but he plans to make a few title defenses before moving up a division.

“We’re going to get back with working on the weight right away, but I saw him last night and he’s not more than 175,” Loew said earlier in the week. “I’m not concerned. We will make 160. That’s going to be the least of our concerns.

“We will always make weight. I’ve never had a fighter not make weight.”

Pavlik’s daughter, Sydney, will turn 2 in May. When asked if she’s helping him keep his weight down, he laughed.

“I think so,” Pavlik said. “She’s doing a good job right now.”

The only other concern heading into the fight is with Pavlik’s hands. He sustained stingers in both hands — particularly his right — in his 12-round decision over Taylor.

“They’re fine,” he said. “My hands got better and better each day [after the fight]. My body was banged up — 12 rounds is 12 rounds — but it wasn’t a brawl.

“I was sore for about a week.”

How’s he feeling now?

“Just dandy,” he said.

scalzo@vindy.com