THE Rocket Man, Gary Lockett, exploded back into action with a devastating second-round stoppage of Puntney's Allan Gray.

The Cwmbran middleweight had been out of the ring for just over a year, but took his tough opponent out in spectacular fashion after a huge right hand hit the mark and then he followed up quickly with another which crashed flush into Gray's jaw.

It was the first time Gray had been floored in 27 fights, and now Lockett is gunning for former British king Ryan Rhodes, a fight that promoter Frank Warren has promised to deliver by the end of the year.

"It was fantastic," Lockett said afterwards. "It was a great performance because he is a tough guy who had never been on his backside before.

"I haven't fought for a year for whatever reasons, but I am not going to look backwards, I'm looking forward from now on and hopefully to some big fights."

Lockett looked in tremendous shape, and he began to put his jab to work and a couple of good, hard left hands sent Gray onto the back foot.

That was where he would remain as Lockett continued to dominate the centre of the ring. He had Gray on the run in round two, and with a clobbering right hook and a flurry, Gray tried to spin away, slipping to the canvas in the process.

But it wasn't long before Gray and the floor were reacquainted.

After just one minute and five seconds of the second round, Lockett smelled blood and pinned Gray into the corner, and after a couple of probes were blocked he unleashed two cracking right hands to end the contest.

"There's been a lot of people calling my name, but let's just see if they have the bottle to step into the ring with me," Lockett said. "I feel I am ready for any middleweight in the country."