09.01.10
Former World Amateur champion Frankie ‘Funtime’ Gavin had a perfect first year as a pro boxer winning all five fights and stopping all five opponents. The Birmingham born fighter starts off 2010 by stepping up in class in facing the London based Irishman Peter McDonagh.
McDonagh (14-15, 2 early) is a former Southern area champion and a former Irish lightweight champion. McDonagh has also taken the likes of Lenny Daws and promising fellow Irishman Andy Murray the distance and should give Gavin a good test.
Speaking to Livefight.com before a light sparring session, Gavin explained how well his training was going for the fight. “I started back training on Monday and my fitness wasn’t too bad considering I have had three weeks off,” explained Gavin. “I sparred on Wednesday against Kieran Maher and I felt fine so it will go well. This is the best shape I have come into a training camp for a fight.”
Gavin admits the durable Irishman will be a good test to see how well he has progressed.
“It’s definitely a step up for me. McDonagh has been an Irish and a Southern area champion but we’ll see on the night how much of a step up it is for me.
“I have seen a few of his fights and he always brings something different to each fight,” explained Gavin. “Sometimes he comes right at you and sometimes he boxes off the back foot and tries to pick you off. I don’t think he’ll try and outbox me as it just won’t happen so he will have to try and out fight me. We’ll see on the night and in my eyes I am the favourite.”
With Gavin having a 100% stoppage record and McDonagh only being stopped once due to injury was there any pressure on Gavin getting another stoppage.
“I don’t really care about stopping him as long as I get the win and win every single round. That will do me fine to win and win well.”
Gavin is looking to get a title shot during 2010 and believes that the progress he is making means that a title fight is a realistic proposition.
“I am really happy with the progress I have made in my first year in the pro ranks,” enthused Gavin. “If you watch my first fight and then watch my last fight there is a big improvement. I move my head more, I am more relaxed and feel stronger and I just feel like a pro now whereas at the start I was still a bit amateurish. It’s all coming together and I am training hard and hopefully by the end of this year I will have a title.
“I would say I am one of the best fighters in Britain over six rounds but as we know titles aren’t over six rounds. So as long as I adapt to 12 rounds as I have to the shorter round fights then I see no reason why a title this year won’t happen.”
Gavin is happy to take any title chance that comes to him but admits he would love to win the British Lonsdale belt first.
“I would love to get the English or British first or maybe the Commonwealth belt. I just want to get titles and keep winning.”
DD