Pavlik retains WBC and WBO middleweight titles

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

ATLANTIC CITY, New Jersey (AFP) — Unbeaten American Kelly Pavlik emphatically stopped Welshman Gary Lockett in the third round Saturday to retain his World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization middleweight titles.

Referee Eddie Cotton called a halt to the bout at the request of the battered Lockett's corner at 1:40 of the third, after Pavlik had put the challenger down three times.

"My jab was working," Pavlik said. "It helped me to set up a lot of things. It stopped him in his tracks."

Pavlik improved to 34-0 with 30 wins inside the distance. Lockett fell to 30-2 with 21 knockouts.

Pavlik knocked down Lockett twice in the second round, which ended with the Welshman's face bloodied.

When he sent him to the canvas again in the third,...