By Phil D. Jay
2007 world amateur champion Frankie Gavin is just over two weeks away from his all-West Midlands battle with former Lonsdale Belt holder Young Mutley as he eyes his firs significant title on May 21st on the Nathan Cleverly v Juergen Braehmer undercard at the O2 Arena in London.
The 25 year-old from Birmingham has started his professional career with an impressive eight knockouts in nine contests in just over two years and sees a derby fight with West Bromich’s Mutley (29-5, 14 KO’s) as the ideal stepping stone to help him reach the top of the domestic scene.
“I have fought lads from the Midlands before, I take it as just another fight,” Gavin told World Boxing News.
“A former British champion will be a good scalp for me.”
The WBO-Inter-Continental welterweight title will be on the line later this month and Gavin has no qualms about fighting for what former champion Kell Brook called ‘his title’ earlier this week. Brook was stripped by the WBO for not defending within 120 days and has announced his desire to win his title back against the winner.
“First of all, it’s not his title if I am fighting for it, but I will gladly take it," Gavin stated.
“If the opportunity comes up to fight Kell, then it must show I am doing something right. I have had nine fights and the number one ranked fighter with the WBO at the weight above me wants to fight me. Maybe it’s because he hasn’t got a big fan base and he is trying to make it bigger.”
Gavin has campaigned mostly a light-welterweight in his career so far and even if he claims the 147lb belt, he will be looking for a domestic shot at 140lbs. The current champion is US-based Brit Ashley Theophane and the Brummie says he will fight whoever has the title so he can claim that coveted Lonsdale Belt.
“I am straight back down to light-welterweight after this and am hoping for a title shot in July. Theophane is a target because I want to be British champ, but anyone with a decent title at 140lbs is a target. I want titles!”
Phil D. Jay covers the boxing scene for worldboxingnews.net