Both Matchroom and Warren Promotions stage rival shows this coming weekend in two of England’s fighting cities, showcasing some of the best talent these shores have to offer in their dress rehearsals ahead of enormous shows planned by each organisation for the end of November, in doing so displaying the increasing confidence they have in the British public’s appetite for the fight game.
Hull and Liverpool are the chosen venues to play host to a number of British boxing’s brightest prospects, including 2012 Olympic Gold Medalist Luke Campbell, the much maligned and supremely talented Chris Eubank Jnr and recently crowned IBF Bantamweight Champion Paul Butler (Butler subsequently vacated the belt, to drop back to his more natural Super Flyweight division). All of who are beneficiaries of the increased promotional activity propelling their promising careers.
In 2014 is very much the time to be an up and coming fighter in Great Britain, under either promotional banner.
One name absent from the above listings and somewhat staggeringly lacing them up in more humble surroundings will be Britain’s first and only World Amateur Champion Frankie Gavin. A man, who along with James DeGale and Billy Joe Saunders, has found that turning professional in 2008, was not quite the bed of roses our youngsters enjoy in the present day.
Gavin 19-1 (12KO’s) returns in a tune up fight against unknown Hungarian Mate Hornyak 12-3 (4KO’s) in an 8 round contest at the Civic Centre in Wolverhampton, following his narrow defeat to the unbeaten and very talented European Welterweight Champion Leonard Bundu on points back in August.
You can expect Gavin to walk through the glorified spar and knock the cobwebs off ahead of what is an interesting fight against Bradley Skeete on 29th November, but is this where we expected to see him 6 years after turning professional?
Although this is a mouthwatering appetiser on the huge Frank Warren ‘Bad Blood’ show in London, it is after all an appetiser, a domestic level clash, of which Gavin has had many and prevailed in all. When you compare that to fellow World Amateur medalists of 2007, Vasyl Lomachenko and Demetrius Andrade now hold versions of the World Title at their respective weight classes and Matt Korobov challenging for the vacant WBO Middleweight World Title against Andy Lee in December, you begin to understand the level Frankie Gavin would expect to be at.
Now, I am well aware that this is not Frankie Gavin drifting off into the sunset, and while plans are afoot for the rematch against Bundu, it’s not the best sign in what at this stage should be a blossoming career at world level. He now finds in a position similar to James DeGale following the Groves defeat, the forgotten man of sorts, fighting on undercards and fringe shows. If not drinking at the bar of the last chance saloon, definitely fastening his spurs to his snake skins.
So, where does he go from here?
I am of the opinion that Frankie Gavin, as far as fundamental skills go, is in the top 5 fighters British boxing has to offer, but at 29 his time his running out. Admittedly, he has had his fair share of personal issues, but these are now behind him and I would love to see him attain the backing his talent truly deserves. To get this he needs to keep winning and winning well and the rewards can be his as James DeGale has proved this year.
I feel for Frankie Gavin, he has everything it takes to succeed skill wise, but timing is everything and maybe he has missed his opportunity, drowned in the depths of talent and hype currently emerging from his own and rival promotional stables. Not to mention the fact that he currently operates in the deepest division in boxing.
One thing remains in my mind, Frankie Gavin is British Boxing’s first and only World Amateur Gold Medalist and he will not be broadcast live this weekend.
Shame how it works out that way sometimes.
