Broner v Rees – trainer Gary Lockett's BIG fight diary (From South Wales Argus)

Broner v Rees – trainer Gary Lockett's BIG fight diary

9:30am Friday 15th February 2013 in Sport

PEOPLE are drawing inevitable comparisons to me ahead of Gavin’s big fight tomorrow, something I totally expected considering how my professional career ended.

For those of you with a short memory, my final fight was also in Atlantic City and just like Gavin I faced the ‘next big thing’ of American boxing when I got a world title crack against Kelly Pavlik.

Unfortunately, my dream opportunity turned into a bit of a nightmare, I was well beaten by Pavlik who I never got to grips with.

He had – he’s currently retired, his career nose-diving after losing to Bernard Hopkins – a relentless style and I simply couldn’t get on top of him.

It’s not a fight I look back on full of regret like you might imagine; I see it as me simply losing to a more talented boxer.

I had tremendous power and that gave me a punchers’ chance, but that wasn’t enough on the biggest stage.

But I have no such fears about Gavin. The truth is, Gavin is more talented and a higher calibre of fighter than I ever was and that’s the truth. He’s a level above what I achieved.

I have no doubt that I could’ve been a world champion but Gavin should’ve been a multiple time champion. And we honestly feel he’s got an excellent chance of beating Adrien Broner.

The bookies don’t see it that way, Gavin’s odds are frankly a disgrace for a man of his calibre, but I’m sure lots of people in Newbridge are visiting their bookie to try and take advantage of that fact.

We feel we’ve developed a good strategy for the fight and there are two factors especially, which are being overlooked.

Number one is that for all his hype, Broner, currently rated as the sixth best pound-for-pound fighter in boxing by Ring Magazine, doesn’t move his feet effectively.

That’s a massive flaw and it’s something Gavin will use to his advantage.

Broner’s record is impressive in terms of being undefeated, but he’s been very, very well protected.

No one talks about the Daniel Ponce De Leon fight Broner had and I’m not surprised because I’ve seen it twice and have little doubt De Leon was the rightful winner, denied on points. The fact he lost was a travesty.

People are mentioning Broner as the next Floyd Mayweather but I find the comparison ludicrous. Broner has power but his defence isn’t in the same stratosphere as Mayweather which people will see when Gavin hurts him.

This is a fabulous opportunity for Gavin and the hype around Broner is so big that we feel there is very little to lose from our end, especially as it’s a great payday for Gavin at the age of 31.

But honestly, no one in Wales should be writing him off. We came here to win and I believe Gavin can do exactly that.