That's excellent sparring. He's getting himself as prepared as physically possible and I respect him for that. Unfortunately I don't think it'll make all that much of a difference cause in the end I fully expect Pavlik to knock his ass out.
Lockett once said that sparring Calzaghe was like fighting a welterweight. Lockett couldn't tag Calzaghe in training so that says a lot about Lockett's speed. However, this was a couple of years ago when Gary first joined that Newbridge gym. If the Newbridge gym gives you anything, it will give you massive workrate and great fitness/stamina training. Technically, it won't advance you but you'll be in the shape of your life if your attitude is spot on. Lockett should be in amazing shape and with the likes of the hard hitting, taller Maccarinelli and the more skillful quick Calzaghe, preparation should be perfect for Lockett. He has been shown the exact way to get to Pavlik. Whether or not he can stick to his gameplan in the face of getting smashed about himself is another matter all together. Unfortunately, Lockett isn't the type of gutsy warrior who is going to go down in a blaze of glory. He retreats into his shell a little bit and will offer little back. If he somehow won this fight though, it would be the making of him.
It's called survival. He is going into the ring with a man that could kill him if he isn't prepared. If he had thoughts of just picking up a paycheck then he wouldn't have much of a chance to spend it. Might make his widow happy...... I don't think anyone has said Lockett was a fool.....
The beauty of a this is that people that like to jump in at the end without reading the thread are probably thinking Lockett is sparring with Ole Joe's father and of course Kelly could KO him.
Must resist this opening... OH HELL WITH IT! Even Lockett thinks Ole Joe slaps like a girl! :gayfight PrideOfWales. Please watch how you phrase things.
This was posted here once as well by Conditioner101 but everyone was giving him a hard time about it. I didn't understand why. Here is the thread: http://www.eastsideboxing.com/forum/showthread.php?t=26554
Read the following quote from Lockett: "I've only been put down once in my whole career - amateur or professional, fighting or sparring." Does this tell us that Craparinelli doesent actually punch that hard, or Lockett has a decent chin???? Or is it not normal to try and drop someone when sparring?? (I'm not that familiar with the ins and outs of sparring - do they fight 100%, or back off a bit in general?)