BoxRec

http://www.livefight.com/news.php?news_ ... =2010&m=01



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.”

i have no doubt gavin will win the english title this year. maybe even the commonwealth late 2010. the only error i seen in gavins last fight was he wasn't putting much power into his world class jab. looks like a definite future world champion

MrBoxingUK2 wrote: looks like a definite future world champion

FAR too early to say that.

MrBoxingUK2 wrote: looks like a definite future world champion

Im with you on that one

G0mez wrote:http://www.livefight.com/news.php?news_ ... =2010&m=01



”

Fvck me he's no oil painting is he!

Whilst it is far to early to state Gavin is going to be european or world class - the early signs are looking extremely promising - I really rate the lad even higher than any other prospect in the country!!! (Yes including Liam Cameron ).

Questions for Frankie or any of his team:

Are cuts a problem?

What weight will Frankie fight at championship level?

Will Frankie stay loyal to Arnie Farnell? - I ask that because I rate Farnell as a trainer and personally I am sick to death how certain boxers seem to change trainers after a hard fight or a defeat - sometimes I can name one prospect it seems for very weak reasons !!!

whicker wrote:

MrBoxingUK2 wrote: looks like a definite future world champion

FAR too early to say that.

i disagree he has showed the boxing skills we all knew he would have. some thought he would struggle because of limited power but frankie can dig a bit. gavin and groves out of all the young british fighters look like they will go to the top

Spud wrote:Whilst it is far to early to state Gavin is going to be european or world class - the early signs are looking extremely promising - I really rate the lad even higher than any other prospect in the country!!! (Yes including Liam Cameron ).

Questions for Frankie or any of his team:

Are cuts a problem?

What weight will Frankie fight at championship level?

Will Frankie stay loyal to Arnie Farnell? - I ask that because I rate Farnell as a trainer and personally I am sick to death how certain boxers seem to change trainers after a hard fight or a defeat - sometimes I can name one prospect it seems for very weak reasons !!!

I think bruising and cuts will be an issue for Gavin, but let's remember Hatton was worse and he has managed.

If you compare how Frankie has developed from his debut, where looked a bit light-fisted, to the intent in his shots recently, i think it's fair to say Gavin & Arnie are on the right route fo sho !

i think gavin is good.

not sure about all the way yet.

he's in a tough weight class.

always good talent coming thru.

he just lacks that x factor for me.

we'll see. :>

Gavin has really impressed me he has fast hands his power is coming along very good boxing skills and very fluid with his boxing, good to watch. I think he should win an English by the end of the year if not higher

MrBoxingUK2 wrote:

whicker wrote:

MrBoxingUK2 wrote: looks like a definite future world champion

FAR too early to say that.

i disagree he has showed the boxing skills we all knew he would have. some thought he would struggle because of limited power but frankie can dig a bit. gavin and groves out of all the young british fighters look like they will go to the top

I still feel that there is a long way to go. The real test will be when he has to dig in and go the distance in a championship fight.

I'm not saying he DOESN'T have it in him to be a future world champion- I just think we need to see more before making such judgements.

This fight is a decent step up for him and is the kind of fight that all the Olympic prospects should be in at this point. What does anyone gain by watching them beating up punching bags? They need proper tests or they're never going to go anywhere. From what I've seen so far Gavin definitely has the tools to progress to world level, but we've yet to see his chin tested or how his power affects fighters at a higher level. Those will be two major factors in his career progression.

McDonagh is an excellent match up at this stage, although he does lack a knockout punch.

(ASSUMING IT'S 6 ROUNDS) for McDonagh to win, he would need to totally dominate at least 4 of the rounds- and I can't see that happening.

I can see it being a close fight, with Gavin doing slightly better most of the time, and being given to Gavin 59-55.

Agreed excellent match I see Gavin winning in a comfterable fight, McDonough has looked good when people are willing to trade with him thats when he is at his best Gavin will look to box him and keep him at range I dont see McDonough getting the measure of Gavin. 60-54 Gavin for me with him looking excellent in the process

whicker wrote:

MrBoxingUK2 wrote: looks like a definite future world champion

FAR too early to say that.

But if you take out the word definite, then I think it's fair to say Frankie looks like a world champ in the making. He's got the talent, and by all accounts the chin too, to go to the very top. I Wouldn't mind putting a bet on he'll win one of the big 4 world titles down the road, can you get odds I wonder?
Of course it's all about also getting the breaks, a bit of luck and the right matches. Not too many burn out type grueling tough Russian/Argie matchups on the way too.

MightyWarrior wrote:

whicker wrote:

MrBoxingUK2 wrote: looks like a definite future world champion

FAR too early to say that.

But if you take out the word definite, then I think it's fair to say Frankie looks like a world champ in the making. He's got the talent, and by all accounts the chin too, to go to the very top. I Wouldn't mind putting a bet on he'll win one of the big 4 world titles down the road, can you get odds I wonder?
Of course it's all about also getting the breaks, a bit of luck and the right matches. Not too many burn out type grueling tough Russian/Argie matchups on the way too.

As long as he does not develop a glaring shortcoming during his learning curve, Alledgedly should get him a title shot of sorts at some point.

Prob...dare i say it... the WBO.

Hello from Chicago, IMO Frankie will develop into a legit contender and will win a world title in time with the right fights at the right time but can he push on and develop into a genuine world champ(not a belt holder) but a genuine champion. IMO with Arnie behind him and even though we have had our dissagreements he can but will Warren prevent that.....only time will tell but in Farnell he has someone that will do his best to make that happen, the same cannot be said for Warren.....same goes for Bellew.

A lot of potential. Obvious boxing ability, good speed and body punching, all the amateur experience he needs, and it seems like he has decent power. All of these attributes need to be tested with a much higher level of opposition to properly gauge how far he can go, but so far he looks like one of the leading young boxers to keep an eye on.

Everytime i see him out of the ring he looks rough as fook. Macklin lost years by breaking his hand fighting on Broad St. Hope Frankie dosent waste his talent on the booze.

paddyavh wrote:Everytime i see him out of the ring he looks rough as fook. Macklin lost years by breaking his hand fighting on Broad St. Hope Frankie dosent waste his talent on the booze.

Frankie aint no street fighter, good boxer but on the street he aint a macklin or froch.

paddyavh wrote:Everytime i see him out of the ring he looks rough as fook. Macklin lost years by breaking his hand fighting on Broad St. Hope Frankie dosent waste his talent on the booze.

I'll bet my bottom dollar that Frankie wouldn't take this path!! His move to Manchester showed dedication beyond question!! He'll be massively succesful without question in my mind..

MightyWarrior wrote: I Wouldn't mind putting a bet on he'll win one of the big 4 world titles down the road, can you get odds I wonder?

You could always ask around, I suppose.

What odds would you be happy taking?

Or, what percentage chance would you say he has?

funny how people talk on his decline whilst he's taking baby steps DD

hurlock wrote:funny how people talk on his decline whilst he's taking baby steps DD

I don't think anyone was talking of his decline- it's more a question of how-far-can/will-he-go.