GARY LOCKETT had his wish at Barnsley Metrodome last night when he had to settle for a points victory over Belgian tough guy Mike Algoet.

The Cwmbran light-middleweight had finished his five previous foes inside two sessions and was desperate to get some rounds under his belt. Algoet, his country's middleweight champion, was ideal for the purpose.

"He was the most awkward opponent I've met by a long way," said Lockett. "He was so strong and so hard to hit.

"I was disappointed with my display at the end of the fight, but now I've had time to think about it it's not so bad.

"I know now that I can do six rounds against a good man. It was a good education."

The Belgian's only genuine stoppage loss - other than cuts - was against Howard Eastman, and the European middleweight titleholder took eight rounds to do the job.

Algoet lived up to that 'durable' tag, recovering quickly when Lockett caught him with a left to the temple in the second, and Lockett showed signs of frustration before settling back into his boxing.

"I nearly dropped him twice, in the second and in the fifth," he said, "but I didn't want to punch myself out."

In the event, he went on to take a 59-55 decision from referee Tony Green.

Tony Oakey won the vacant Commonwealth light-heavyweight title last night, stopping Zimbabwe's Hastings Rasani in the 10th round, and next wants to meet WBO super-middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe.