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NEW YORK (AP) -After his second straight win over Jermain Taylor, Kelly Pavlik promises he will be keeping his middleweight title by beating top contenders.
"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," Pavlik said Thursday of his June 7 defense of his WBC and WBO crowns against Gary Lockett of Wales. The unbeaten Pavlik will meet Lockett at Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall.
"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 No. 1 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 percent for this fight."
Pavlik knocked out Taylor to win the championship belts, then outpointed him in their non-title rematch last month.
Pavlik, of Youngstown, Ohio, is 33-0 with 29 knockouts.
Lockett is 30-1 with 21 KOs. He's riding a six-year, 14-bout unbeaten streak.
"This fight has got all the ingredients for a good old-fashioned punch-up," Lockett said. "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."
The undercard will feature WBO junior featherweight champion Daniel Ponce De Leon defending his title against undefeated No. 1 contender and mandatory challenger Juan Manuel Lopez.
