ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Kelly Pavlik is both the middleweight king and the new chairman of the boardwalk.

Pavlik got back on the knockout path Saturday night, stopping unheralded Gary Lockett with a punishing assault in the third round of his first title defense before a raucous crowd at Boardwalk Hall.

Nearly everyone considered Lockett a mere tuneup for the hard-punching Pavlik, who captured the WBC and WBO versions of the middleweight championship when he stopped previously unbeaten Jermain Taylor in the same building last September.

Lockett did little to prove the contrary.

Coming off a 12-round decision of Taylor in a catch-weight rematch, the first time Pavlik (34-0, 30 KOs) had failed to stop an opponent in 10 fights, the humble hero of Youngstown, Ohio, stunned Lockett (30-2) in the opening round, dropped him to a knee twice in the second, and was set to do even more damage in the third when Lockett's corner threw in the towel.

"My jab was working. It helped me to set up a lot of things," Pavlik said. "It stopped him in his tracks. I was catching him with good shots. He was smart to take a knee when I hurt him. I knew each time he took a knee I had buzzed him."

Pavlik walked confidently into Boardwalk Hall to the same kind of thunderous reception that retired brawler Arturo Gatti once enjoyed, with dozens of fans holding up homemade signs touting "our champion" and "the best in boxing."

He didn't disappoint, using his left jab to close the distance from the opening bell, drawing Lockett inside. He kept following with big right hands, backing the smaller Welshman into a corner midway through the opening round.

"I just couldn't see the shots coming," Lockett said.

The second round was much the same, Lockett twice going down to catch his breath from the constant push by Pavlik. The crowd booed lustily the second time, and Lockett got up with about five seconds to go in the round. He wouldn't make it much further.

Lockett went down again early in the third round, and even though he struggled to his feet along the ropes, he clearly had enough. The referee called the fight 1:40 into the round.

"He was a dangerous fighter," Pavlik said. "He can pop."

Promoter Bob Arum's choice to put Lockett in against Pavlik surprised nearly everyone, including Lockett, who had the WBO No. 1 ranking despite having no notable victory and never having fought outside Europe.

But popular Irish fighter John Duddy was badly cut in a fight a few months ago, taking him off the list of potential opponents. Lockett slid into place after winning 14 straight over the last six years, a record that looked good on paper.

Known for his own knockout power, Lockett was certainly right when he predicted that the fight wouldn't go the distance, one way or the other.

"He's a fabulous fighter," Lockett said. "Every time I threw punches it seemed like he was making me pay for it."

Whatever is next for Pavlik, one thing is clear: He's quickly becoming one of the most popular, and most bankable, stars in the sport.

"Whoever they throw in front of me," Pavlik said. "Who have I turned down? Nobody."




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