Gary: Just Lockett me now! (From Free Press Series)

Gary: Just Lockett me now!

GARY Lockett wasted no time when his world title chance finally came along, blasting fellow WBU middleweight challenger Gilbert Eastman to defeat in 2 mins 25 secs with one stunning blow at the Newport Centre on Saturday night.

The 29-year-old Cwmbran puncher had long promised to win a title, and even if the WBU crown is little rated by many, it's one he thoroughly deserves.

Despite an early career littered with hand problems, Lockett won his first 16 fights, 13 inside the distance, over six years before suffering a battering by powerful Russian Yuri Tsarenko in defence of his WBO inter-continental light-middleweight title.

Many people thought he would not recover, but he did and gained revenge a year later when he bravely took a return with Tsarenko at short notice for a ten-rounds points win.

Just over a month later he ended up in hospital, suffering from dehydration, after a disputed points win over Nottingham's Michael Monahan, and again his career path was in doubt.

But a nasal operation cured a breathing problem and five more wins followed, four early stoppages, before last night's title opportunity.

Along the way three proposed WBU title fights fell through and even last night's original challenger, Ryan Rhodes, pulled out a week beforehand with a back problem.

Gilbert Eastman, brother of British middleweight number one Howard Eastman, stepped in and almost as quickly was counted out.

Lockett started firm favourite against his opponent, who has campaigned at light-middleweight where he is rated only six in Britain, and looked supremely confident as he made his way to the ring. Once the fight started he immediately imposed himself with a powerful left jab, and though Eastman maintained a high guard he was caught by a Lockett right midway through the round.

A minute later it was all over as Lockett, who had barely taken a punch, sent a peach of a right hook over Eastman's jab.

Though Eastman wobbled up at eight, he was in no position to defend himself and Leeds referee Micky Vann, in his 131st world title fight, continued the count and stopped the contest after 2mins 25secs.

"I knew I'd beat him. I did not realise how quickly. When you have power like I have you are always confident, but it was still a massive surprise to win in round one," said Lockett, winner of 26 of his 27 fights, 18 by KO, afterwards.

"The plan was to box and use the jab and to throw the right hand over the top, which for me is a natural punch.

"I noticed his jab was quite slow so I thought I'd come around to the left, force him into throwing the jab and then bring the hook around the side. "He took a while but then, delayed reaction, he went down and he could hardly get up. He wanted to carry on but the referee was right to stop it as he had nothing left."

Lockett added: "I'd had an eight weeks' training camp for the first time and I knew I was fitter and stronger than ever.

"I'm a puncher and he could not take my power.

"I felt under a little bit of pressure after Joe Calzaghe's brilliant win last week and Enzo Maccarinelli's success and especially when Bradley Pryce won earlier, and I was just glad to get it out of the way. It's brilliant."