posted June 6, 2008 at 16:27 in Other Articles

BetUS Sportsbook bettors will be keying in on professional boxing betting this Saturday, as Kelly Pavlik, who holds the WBC and WBO middleweight title bouts but is widely acknowledged as the legitimate champion, defends his title for the second time when he faces off against Welshman Gary Lockett in a twelve-round bout that will take place at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

BetUS boxing betting odds:

WBC-WBO Middleweight (160-pound) title

June 7 -- Atlantic City

KELLY PAVLIK -2500

GARY LOCKETT +1000

Under 6.5 Rounds -145

Over 6.5 Rounds +105

For betting purposes, let's size up the contestants:

PAVLIK (33-0, 29 KO's), the -2500 sports betting favorite in the BetUS boxing betting odds, is a native of Youngstown. Ohio (also home to former champions Ray Mancini, Harry Arroyo and Jeff Lampkin) who won a National Golden Gloves and National PAL title in the amateur ranks. He turned pro in June of 2000 and hasn't lost yet. Most of the bouts in the first couple of years in his career ended in the first two rounds, and he didn't face a serious test (at least on paper) until November of 2004, when he scored a shutout decision over Ross Thompson. Pavlik started moving up in class of opponent soon after, scoring wins over Fulgencio Zuniga, Bronco McKart and Jose Luis Zertuche, then passed with flying colors in his biggest career test when he dominated the "fearsome" Edison Miranda from start to finish, registering a seventh-round TKO in May 2007 to earn himself a title shot. In his championship opportunity, Pavlik was knocked down by Jermain Taylor in the second round, then stormed back later to stop an exhausted taylor in the seventh round to capture the WBC and WBO belts. In February he beat Taylor in the rematch, chalking up a decision by two, four and six points on the judges' scorecards.

LOCKETT (30-1, 21 KO's), the +1000 underdog at BetUS, is listed as the #1 contender by the WBO, but really doesn't deserve to be there. A native of Wales, he is handled by Enzo Calzaghe, father and trainer of his son, Joe Calzaghe. Lockett turned pro in September of 1996 and moved up slowly. In 2002 he beat Kevin Kelly for something called the WBO Inter-Continental title, then suffered a loss defending it against Yuri Tsarenko, a fighter with a 12-7 record. He later won the rematch, and beat Lee Blundell last April for the WBU title, but truth be told, he has not been tested at all.

Really, the question here isn't whether Pavlik will win, but at what point will he knock out Lockett. The eventual goal, it seems, is fighting Lockett's stablemate, Joe Calzaghe, so Enzo is in the unenviable position of upsetting an applecart for his son if his other charge were to pull off the big upset. No need to worry there. Enzo's quotes to one internet reporter: "He's never been in better shape in his whole life. At the end of the day, we haven't cut no corners and he's been training 200 per cent."

Yeah, so what?

Lockett is known as an aggressive type who is going to try and get Pavlik's respect by landing his left hook. Pavlik is not a particularly skilled boxer, although his left jab, when he throws it, deserves compliments. But when an opponent comes to him, which Lockett will almost certainly have to do, that opponent had better be carrying thunder. Lockett doesn't fit that category, or at least he hasn't given any indication of it. Pavlik uses his height advantage (four and a half inches) to set things up, then crashing a right hand down on Lockett some time between the third and sixth rounds. I'm going UNDER the 6.5 round total as it is posted in the BetUS boxing betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: UNDER 6.5 ROUNDS (-145) **

(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)

Betting on boxing has never been so easy and you can get your bets in now in the BetUS sportsbook. Go to Other Sports: Boxing. Find tons of props on the fight and the fighters in the Future / props section as well!

(Charles Jay of eBookies.com is a former manager, matchmaker and color commentator in professional boxing. He currently pulls no punches in the BetUS Locker Room)