British and Commonwealth Welterweight Champion Frankie Gavin, who aims to secure his Lonsdale belt outright this Saturday (21 September) at The Copper Box Arena when he faces David Barnes, spoke today about rival Amir Khan’s chances in a potential showdown with the pound-for-pound number one fighter Floyd Mayweather Jnr., saying simply “he hasn’t really got any!”
Gavin, Britain’s only ever amateur world champion, was responding to media reports that Khan is a leading contender to become the next opponent for Mayweather, who made light work of his supposed number one threat, Canelo Alverez, last Saturday which was shown live on BoxNation in the UK.
Gavin continued, “Khan is an excellent fighter but Mayweather is definitely a step too far for him, as he is for anyone at the moment.”
The Birmingham star dazzled in his last performance against the previously unbeaten Denton Vassell and also made it clear that former World Champion Khan is very much on the agenda in what would be a salivating all-British showdown: “He’s hasn’t proved that that he’s even the best Welterweight in the UK yet, and until he does you have question how he can possibly get in there with the world’s best fighter and an all-time great. I know myself that Khan is their to be beaten and that I’ve got the skills that could expose him and I would love that fight. I’ve always said that I will fight anybody and if we met it would be absolutely huge in the UK.”
Gavin’s fight with David Barnes, in which he hopes to capture the Lonsdale belt for keeps, is seen in many quarters as Gavin’s last outing at domestic level as he continues his march towards a World title. The fight is a co-feature on Queensberry Promotions’ multi-title curtain raiser for the Olympic Park’s Copper Box Arena. The event headlined, by the huge British and Commonwealth title showdown between Billy Joe Saunders and John Ryder will mark the first of six confirmed shows that Frank Warren and Queensberry Promotions have set up for the next year.
Also on the bill Dereck Chisora has a second stab at European glory, after being robbed of the title against Robert Helanius two years ago. Chisora faces Edmund Gerber this time for the vacant EBU title. Paul Butler will be looking to continue to send shockwaves through the Super Flyweight division when he takes on Miguel Gonzalez for the Vacant WBO Intercontinental title, whilst someone will lose their unbeaten record when Liam Walsh faces Joe Murray for the IBF International and Commonwealth Super Featherweight Championships.
The exciting Mitchell Smith looks to capture the Vacant Southern Area title against Scott Moises, whilst the hugely popular Frank Buglioni will bring his army of fans to the venue for the first time as he looks to go 10-0.
Welterweight Bradley Skeete gets a chance to impress whilst top amateurs Georgie Kean and Josh Leather will make their professional bows on the bill.
Remaining tickets for the Copper Box Arena show are priced at:
£40 Upper Concourse
£50 Lower Seating Bowl
£70 Floor
£120 Ringside