Magnificent Seven preview: Frankie Gavin
This Saturday at Frank Warren’s Magnificent Seven “Funtime” Frankie Gavin will be delighted to be fighting in his home town of Birmingham where he will compete for his first ever belt, which bizarrely happens to be the Irish light-welterweight title.
Gavin has a tentative link to the emerald isle through his Tipperary born parents, which coincidently makes him more Irish than the entire 1994 Republic of Ireland World Cup squad. That’s certainly enough for him to get a crack at the strap and continue his progress through the professional ranks.
Right now Funtime isn’t a household name and that is mainly down to a scandalous elimination from the Olympic Games. He was the pride of the Great Britain team and a gold medal favourite but failed to make the weight in very disappointing circumstances, and was denied the opportunity to take his place alongside James DeGale and co in getting a lucrative professional contract off the back of a medal.
Still, he signed with Frank Warren after being linked with the likes of Oscar Del La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions. He is being tipped to emulate fellow 10-stoner Amir Khan and could be fast tracked to join the over-big names in the light-welterweight division.
So far in his fledging career he has an unblemished record with seven fights, seven wins and six knock outs, his only non-KO victory came in a four rounder against the experienced Peter McDonough.
As a fighter he is a little firecracker; fast hands, excellent body puncher and a slick mover who darts in and out firing at will. The southpaw has power in both fists and can overcome opponents with the sheer velocity of his shots.
He has put in some show stopping displays, such as those against Graham Fern and Gavin Tait, and looks a real class act.
Funtime fights Michael Kelly for the Irish belt. It’s his first 12 rounder and Kelly is a decent fighter but it should be nothing less than a victory for the young Brummie and the first belt of what is sure to be a very large collection.
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