Gary Lockett is to follow stable mate Joe Calzaghe to America

Gary Lockett admits he is a "dark horse" ahead of his shock world title shot against Kelly Pavlik.

Lockett, the WBU middleweight champion, will fight America's WBC and WBO champion on 7 June in Atlantic City.

The 31-year-old Lockett, a stable-mate of Joe Calzaghe, told a New York press conference: "This is a massive opportunity for me.

"I know none of you you have never heard of me and I may be a dark horse but I'm a knockout artist."

The Welsh power-puncher is trained by Enzo Calzaghe and is the number one challenger to Pavlik's WBO belt.

606: DEBATE Has Lockett a hope against Pavlik?

Unbeaten Pavlik is the new king of the middleweight division after he unified the WBO and WBC titles with back-to-back victories over Jermain Taylor.

Pavlik has been touted as a future opponent for super-middleweight king Calzaghe, who faces Bernard Hopkins in Las Vegas on 19 April.

Pavlik is the new star of the cash-rich American boxing market and Lockett is ready for the step up in class on his US debut.

"This is a fight between two big punchers that will not go the distance," he said.

"Kelly is a throwback fighter. He stands in front of you. We aren't going to have to look for each other in the ring."

WALES' WORLD CHAMPIONS Percy Jones (World flyweight champion, 1914) Freddie Welsh (World lightweight champion, 1914-17) Jimmy Wilde (World flyweight champion, 1916-23) Howard Winstone (WBC featherweight champion, 1968) Steve Robinson (WBO featherweight champion, 1993-95) Robbie Regan (IBF flyweight champion, 1995, WBO bantamweight champion, 1996) Barry Jones (WBO super featherweight champion, 1997) Joe Calzaghe (WBO super middleweight champion, 1997-, IBF super middleweight champion, 2006, WBA & WBC super middleweight champion, 2007-) Enzo Maccarinelli (WBO cruiserweight champion, 2006-8) Gavin Rees (WBA light welterweight champion 2007-8)

Lockett was handpicked by Pavlik's promoter Bob Arum for the Boardwalk Hall showdown in June.

And Pavlik said he was not letting complacency get the better of him ahead of his maiden world middleweight title defence.

"I know he's a tough kid, he can fight," the 25-year-old said. "Lockett has a 30-1 win-loss record with 21 stoppages. He comes forward and has decent hand speed.

"He's hungry and is coming to take the title. We're taking no chances."

Pavlik, who has a 33-0 record with 29 victories inside the distance, said Lockett would be tested early at Boardwalk Hall.

"He's never really fought anybody that stood their ground. He's never really been tested that way," the champion said.

"I've seen him come out going forward but after the first round that game plan might change."

Pavlik won the WBO and WBC titles in September by beating previously undefeated champion Jermain Taylor, stopping his compatriot in the seventh round.

Taylor also lost their non-title rematch last month on a unanimous points decision.

"It took me seven years to get the title," said Pavlik. "I'm not going to give it up on my first defence."