Pavlik is predictable - Lockett

Pavlik is unbeaten in 33 professional encounters

Gary Lockett says he can exploit Kelly Pavlik's limited armoury when he challenges for the American's WBC and WBO middleweight titles in the USA.

"Pavlik's brilliant at what he does," said Cwmbran's Lockett, a huge underdog for the 7 June bout in Atlantic City.

"But he's no Floyd Mayweather, Joe Calzaghe or Miguel Cotto, he doesn't have their all-round game.

"We know what he'll do, come forward at a pace and put it all through the left hand. We've got a game plan for it."

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Welshman Lockett, 31, is trained by Enzo Calzaghe and holds an impressive record of 30 wins and just one defeat, 21 of his victories coming by way of knock-out.

Despite being the WBO's number one challenger, the "Rocket Man" has never mixed in the class of 26-year-old Pavlik.

"The Ghost" from Youngstown, Ohio, is the rising superstar of US boxing after back-to-back victories over former middleweight king Jermain Taylor.

The second victory in February - a non-title bout made at a catch weight of 166lbs - extended Pavlik's 100% record to 33 fights, 29 of the wins coming by way of knock-out.

John Duddy was being lined up for Pavlik's first defence, but when the marketable Irish-American was cut badly in his win over Walid Smichet in February, WBU middleweight champion Lockett was seen as the man to fill the breach.

This has been seen as an easy pay day for Pavlik against an attractive, come-forward fighter, and a bout that could pave the way for a super-fight with Lockett's stable-mate and sparring partner Joe Calzaghe.

"That could be seen as a realistic opinion of my standing and ability," Lockett told BBC Radio Wales' The Back Page programme.

"But it's because I haven't been given the chance to show what I can do.

They've under-estimated us by a long shot, I'm quietly confident that I can go over there and do the business Gary Lockett

"My career was stalling, but this is the chance of a lifetime and I've never worked so hard.

"People may say I've got a puncher's chance - but is there such a thing as a lucky punch in boxing?

"We're both punchers with excellent knock-out records and we'll both be throwing leather early.

"We have a plan to work on his style, and I know that if I hit anyone in the world at my weight, they're going to go down.

"We know what Pavlik can do, but his camp don't know what we can do.

"They've under-estimated us by a long shot and I'm quietly confident that I can go over there and do the business."

*Lockett was speaking to Steffan Garrero on "The Back Page" programme that has a regular slot on BBC Radio Wales on Saturdays, 0830-0900 GMT/BST