Frankie Gavin, Anthony Farnell are United in Praise
By Terence Dooley
Birmingham’s Frankie Gavin takes on Graham Fearn on the undercard of Amir Khan’s challenge to Andrey Kotelnik later tonight. The former amateur starlet, a gold medallist at the World Championships in 2007, has adopted a robust approach in the professional code, his talent is there for all to see, but there is a little bit of devilment also.
Gavin, 23, and 2-0 (2) as a pro, exclusively revealed to Boxingscene that he is adapting well to the rigours of the paid ranks.
“I feel a different fighter now I’m a professional,” confirmed the bubbly Brummie southpaw. “I feel a lot stronger but I still feel fast. I thought the first fight [a win over George Kadaria] would be a lot easier that it was. It is easier to hit professionals, but they can take the shots.”
Frankie’s debut marked him out as one to watch; the youngster was cut along the bridge of the nose, he also took a few roughhouse swings, before fighting his way to a solid third-round win over Kadaria in February. Gavin broke the fight down for us.
“I threw the body shots and tried to move a bit,” he explained. “Dean [Powell] got my cut under control straight away. In the amateur gyms I used to fight, but I’m a better boxer than fighter; I can make people miss, but wanted to show them in the pros that I can fight as well.
“I think there is a lot more to come from me,” he continued. “I really would like to go far, I’m not comparing myself to the other amateurs who turned over [chiefly: James DeGale, Billy Joe Saunders, Tony Jeffries, and Joe Murray]. What matters is that we are all winning. I want them to do well but boxing is a selfish sport and you have to look out for yourself.”
Gavin trains in Manchester with up-and-coming trainer, and former fighter, Anthony Farnell. Known as ‘The Warrior’ during his fighting career, Farnell adopts a technical approach as a coach. For Gavin, there was only one name in the frame when he decided to turn pro.
“Arnie is the best up-and-coming trainer in Britain at the minute,” claimed Gavin. “There was nowhere else for me to go once I had seen what they do here. I want to stay undefeated and learn over the four rounds distance, and then I’m looking forward to moving towards titles. I’ve been doing well in sparring. I’m learning all the time.”
Finally, there was the question of Gavin’s weight, he was due to fight at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, only to be sent home after failing to make, and maintain, his weight, cue rumours over his dedication. However, Gavin feels that he had pushed his body as far as it could go; boiling down to the lightweight limit was taking its toll.
“Really, it was unrealistic for the Worlds,” he said. “Even though I won the tournament I was starving myself between the fights and having nothing from morning to morning to make the weight. I could have got hurt but luckily it worked out..”
Gavin fights Fearn over four-rounds. Fearn, 4-2 (0) has mixed in decent company, but the wheels have fallen off in his last two fights, consecutive points defeats. Gavin will be happy with a win; still, it would be nice if he could hand Fearn his first stoppage.
Anthony Farnell could not wait to talk to us about his charge. Anthony is convinced that Frankie has got what it takes.
“Frankie is looking great, better every day,” said Farnell. “Frankie suffered a clash of heads and a cut in that first fight so he knows what it is about as a professional now. The guy was coming in with his head and that is better for Frankie than just posting an easy win.
“Frankie is on the fast track because he has great skills,” he continued. “Look at his amateur pedigree; the guy has seen most styles of boxing in his career already so he will go right through the rankings. [Promoter] Frank Warren will move him right and he will be stepped up at the right time.”
Anthony also trains the irrepressible Stevie Bell, the committed Tony Bellew, stylist Anthony Crolla, and has recently added Ronnie Heffron to his stable; Gavin’s arrival is a sign that Farnell is trusted within the trade.
“Frankie could have gone anywhere, he could have gone to America but he came here to try it out, and decided to stay on,” explained Farnell. “I have never gone out looking to approach fighters. I have never poached a fighter. I only coach fighters that want to be coached by me.
“A lot of people thought I would be all about being a warrior as a trainer,” he continued. “But I like to train my boxers in a different way. In the next ten-months or so we will have success. People will say that these lads were top, top amateurs anyway and would have made it with anyone, but I believe that a few years down the line people will be able to see that I’m one of the best trainers out there, but there is no point saying that now, I will prove it in the next few years.”
Gavin’s fight against Fearn will be televised as part of the Sky PPV package.
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