CHAMPIONSHIP ACTION ON THE BOARDWALK: KELLY PAVLIK VS. GARY LOCKETT AND DANIEL PONCE DE LEON VS. JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ

Summer heat arrives early when undefeated rising star Kelly Pavlik (33-0, 29 KOs), from Youngstown, Ohio, returns to Atlantic City - where he captured his middleweight crown - for his first title defense against Gary Lockett (30-1, 21 KOs), from Cwmbran, Wales, in a scheduled 12-round contest. Pavlik is coming off back-to-back wins against former middleweight champ Jermain Taylor; their memorable showdown in September 2007 was named "Fight of The Year" by the Boxing Writers Association of America. Making his American debut, Lockett also hails from an industrial town, but in the south of Wales. He's on a six-year, 14-fight undefeated streak, and hasn't lost since 2002. In addition to his near-perfect professional career, Lockett compiled an impressive amateur record of 90-8.

In the opening bout, junior featherweight champion Daniel Ponce De Leon (34-1, 30 KOs) battles undefeated top-ranked contender Juan Manuel Lopez (21-0, 19 KOs) in a scheduled 12-round bout. Originally from Cuauhtemoc, Mexico, and now residing in Huntington Park, Cal., De Leon will be making his sixth title defense since winning the belt in 2005; he fought for Mexico in the 2000 Olympic Games. Lopez, from Caguas, Puerto Rico, represented his homeland at the 2004 Olympics, and has quickly risen in the rankings since turning pro in 2005. As an amateur, he was a five-time Puerto Rican national champion.