By Matthew Hurley: Super middleweight contender Allan Green has been placed on indefinite suspension by the Louisiana State Boxing & Wrestling Commission. Green was scheduled to headline ESPN’s Friday Night Fights on February 29th against Antwun Echols in Marksville, Louisiana but inexplicably withdrew at the last minute and has yet to comment. Echols wound up fighting late substitute Michael Walker. The bout resulted in a majority draw. Green’s suspension could last between six months to a year and could include a possible fine..
According to Joe Scalzo of the Virginia Vindicator middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik will next face number one WBO contender Gary ‘The Rocket Man’ Lockett on June 7th at Madison Square Garden. Pavlik and his promoter Bob Arum had been hopeful of matching John Duddy against the champion had Duddy emerged victorious in his bout against Walid Smichet on February 23rd. Duddy escaped with a ten round majority decision but left the ring with a severe cut over his left eye and a smaller laceration over his right eye. A disappointed Arum was forced to look elsewhere.
“I don’t think Duddy is going to be ready because of the cuts,” the promoter said after Duddy’s shaky performance. He then went on to say that an end of the year Pavlik – Duddy match up is still a possibility.
In steps Welsh fighter Gary Lockett, 30-1 with 21 KOs who is currently scheduled to fight an opponent yet to be determined on March 22nd at the International Arena in Cardiff, Wales. The thirty-one year old fighter has never fought in the United States. He is trained by Enzo Calzaghe, the father of super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe.
The bout, still unofficial, will mark Pavlik’s first defense of the title which he won from Jermain Taylor by seventh round knockout in September of last year. His most recent ring performance was a twelve round unanimous decision victory in a rematch with Taylor on February 16th. The bout was fought at a catch-weight of 166 pounds. The middleweight title belts were not on the line.