GWENT'S British middleweight and WBU world title contender Gary Lockett today told the Argus, "the way I feel at the moment, I could retire."

The big-punching Cwmbran 28-year-old is fed up at being 'fobbed off' by promoters Sports Network, who keep putting back his British title eliminator with Allan Gray.

And he claims he has slipped down that organisation's pecking order below former British champion Ryan Rhodes, whom they recently re-signed (Rhodes is independently ranked 71 in the world to Lockett's 25).

Lockett's fight with Gray was due to go ahead in January, but had to be postponed when Lockett suffered a chest infection.

"They told me it would be rescheduled within a month. It was supposed to be February, then March, then April, then May. Now it's supposed to be June," said Lockett.

"It feels as if I'm being punished for pulling out of a fight.

"The last time I went into a fight when I was ill I had that nightmare first fight against Michael Monaghan (since beaten again by Lockett) and ended up in hospital (with dehydration).

"I won the fight, but I didn't want to go through that again. Now, it will be nine months since I last fought by the time June comes around and it feels like I've wasted ten years of my life.

"I'm sick to the back teeth of it. The way I feel at the moment I could retire now.

"They keep putting me off and then I find they've signed Ryan Rhodes and he's fighting on April 22. They've given him a fight when they say they can't get me a fight.

"He got knocked out two and a half years ago by Lee Blundell. He's ranked below me. Rhodes is good, but he just doesn't take a shot on the chin.

"I'll knock him out within three rounds if I'm in the right condition, but there's nothing I can do to convince them (Sports Network).

"It's constant fobbing me off all the time, and it's not only me.

Unless you're Ricky Hatton, Joe Calzaghe or Scott Harrison or someone like that, I think everyone gets treated the same.

"It's soul-destroying for me because I've put my whole life into this and the realisation now is that it's probably not going to happen.

"If I'm not good enough, I can handle that, but not being given the chance to prove how good I am is another thing."

Meanwhile Lockett, beaten just once in 28 fights, a loss later avenged, continues to renovate and rent out property to earn money and is studying for a sports science degree.

lWBO supermiddleweight interim title holder Mario Veit has hit back at Claims by champion Joe Calzaghje that he will knock him out a second time when they meet in Hamburg on May 7.

The German said of Calzaghe's taunts,"this is only bla bla. I can hardly wait to welcome Joe to Germany, because on May 7 we will see who is going to end the career of who.

"There is one thing I want even more than winning, retaliation for what happened four years ago (when Calzaghe KO'd Veit inside a round in Cardiff) and to mark his face with my punches."

l Newbridge lightweight Gavin Rees, a former world light-welterweight title contender, has had his licence temporarily suspended by the British Boxing Board of Control.

The board declined to give a reason, but assistant secretary Robert Smith said: "For him to box again he has to appear before the Welsh Area Council and forward relevant documents and I don't think he's done that."

Meanwhile, Clinton Woods is lining up a summer world title rematch against Roy Jones in his home city of Sheffield.

Woods' manager Dennis Hobson is planning a major June title defence for the newly-crowned IBF light-heavyweight champion.

And Hobson is confident of luring American superstar Jones to Britain for a revenge bid after Woods' sixth-round defeat in Portland three years ago.

Hobson said: "We hope to stage a huge show in Sheffield at the end of June and we are looking at a number of options.

"It would be a nice coup for us if we could get Jones over here and we have spoken about doing a deal. I don't think they have any problems about coming over here and I would love to make that fight. He is a massive name and I really like Clinton's chances this time."

Hobson has played down suggestions of a match against WBO super-middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe.

Hobson added: "We are not looking at Calzaghe. We have got a lot of options and we do not have to chase after people."