Underdog Gary Lockett insists his world title shot against superstar champion Kelly Pavlik is a "no lose" situation.

The Welshman hopes to take Pavlik's WBC and WBO middleweight belts in Sunday's showdown in Atlantic City.

"People have American tinted glasses and they think they're unbeatable and have a god given right to top every weight division," said Lockett.

"There's no greater motivation for me and there's nothing more dangerous than a guy with nothing to lose."

I'll have to kill Pavlik to beat him World title challenger Gary Lockett

Unbeaten American Pavlik is unequivocal favourite to crush Lockett at The Boardwalk Hall in the early hours of Sunday morning and retain his WBO and WBC in his first defence.

Lockett, stablemate of super-middleweight king of Joe Calzaghe, despairs at the disrespect as the 31-year-old maintains: "Negative comments aren't worth listening to

"I'm a working class lad and my dad taught me that if you have nothing positive to say then don't say it.

"But what I can't believe is that they've got nothing to judge me on, I can't believe people are writing me off before I start.

"Nobody expects me to go past two rounds against Pavlik so if the worst comes to the worse and I do get blasted out early, then so be it - write me off.

"I've only been put down once in my whole career - amateur or professional, fighting or sparring.

"I know I haven't been in with a big-hitter like Kelly Pavlik before but I'm not going to beat myself before I've started. In my mind I believe I can beat him."

Lockett's only defeat was to Yuri Tsarenko in a WBO Inter-Continental light middleweight title by a split decision in November 2002.

Pavlik, on the other hand, is five years younger and beat Jermain Taylor in Las Vegas to win the undisputed world middleweight title.

"I've got nothing but respect for Pavlik," said Lockett, coached by Joe's trainer and father Enzo Calzaghe

"He is a very determined fighter and I'll have to kill him to beat him. He's a throwback to the old school style of fighter, he's relentless and fearsome.

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"But the Americans have under-estimated me and with the question marks over his motivation and my chin, power and heart, I've highlighted a few things where I can shock Pavlik - and the world.

"I've got nothing to prove but I want my family to be proud of me and I'm not there to make up the numbers."

Giant former cruiserweight world champion Enzo Maccarinelli has been Lockett's main sparring partner for the fight of his life.

"Enzo is probably the best sparring I could have wished for when preparing for Pavlik," says Lockett.

"Enzo is similar to Pavlik; he's tall, rangy, athletic, fights on the front foot and he is probably a bigger hitter than Pavlik - and Enzo has landed some huge shots that I just couldn't get away from.

"But I'm ready for the fight of my life and I'm feeling great."