DeGale, Gavin: Stateside Recognition is a Real Boost
By Terence Dooley
Frank Warren expects big things from British super-middleweight boss James DeGale and Irish light-welterweight title-holder Frankie Gavin, both of whom have been picked from the British chorus line by US columnist Dan Rafael.
“I’m expecting really big things from Frankie and James over the next year,” revealed Warren when speaking to the Sunday Mercury. “Getting picked by Dan Rafael means that people in the States are beginning to sit up and take notice of them, not just in the UK.”
DeGale moved to 9-0 (7) when defeating British champion Paul Smith at the ECHO Arena, Liverpool on December 11. Gavin had to pull out of December’s bill due to a virus yet the light-welterweight prospect feels that he will be back with a bang in 2011.
Birmingham’s Gavin, 8-0 (7), missed out on a West Midlands derby date against Dean Harrison due to the withdrawal; however, he believes that he will catch up with promotional stablemate DeGale during 2011. “I am also going step for step with James DeGale since we both turned professional two years ago,” stressed Gavin.
“He is now British champion and rated in the WBO ranks. There is no reason why I should not be the same. But missing out on the Harrison fight was a step backwards which I didn’t want. Now I need to catch up on lost time. The fight against Harrison is to be rescheduled for the New Year, which will be great, and the message that I am highly regarded in the States by Dan Rafael is terrific.”
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