By Jake Donovan
Unbeaten welterweight contender Frankie Gavin inked a new promotional deal, extending his tour with Frank Warren with a pact that promises the 28-year old a shot at a welterweight title in the coming year.
“I’m extremely happy to re-sign with Frank and continue being promoted by him with my fights being televised on BoxNation,” Gavin said in a statement. “He’s the best promoter out there in my eyes and has promoted my career brilliantly from day one. I look forward to keep producing the results in the ring, remain unbeaten and bring back a world title.
“You only have to look at what he did for stars like Naseem Hamed and Ricky Hatton in their careers just to name a few, he makes the opportunities happen for the fighters and I know that he’ll get the world title opportunity for me and it looks like it will happen this year.”
Gavin (18-0, 12KO) is coming off of an impressive 2013 campaign that saw a smooth transition from rising prospect to budding contender. Four wins came on the year, including a 7th round knockout of previously unbeaten Denton Vassell in June and a decisive points win over David Barnes last October.
The undefeated southpaw is scheduled to return to the ring on March 8, against an opponent yet to be determined. One possible option is a showdown with Betheul Ushona, a 31-year old welterweight from Namibia who is ranked just ahead of Gavin in one set of alphabet rankings.
Ranked above both fighters is renowned superstar Manny Pacquiao, who is currently in negotiations to secure an opponent for his April 12 fight date in Las Vegas. Among the leading contenders for the slot is reigning welterweight titlist Timothy Bradley, whom bested Pacquiao over 12 rounds – albeit in a highly controversial split decision – in June ’12.
Gavin is currently the third-ranked contender for Bradley’s alphabet title, and hopes to narrow the gap within his next fight or two.
“I’m on the world scene now and I’m looking at an eliminator for the WBO title against Ushona before a world title by the end of the year,” Gavin said. “I’m confident in my abilities, obviously Pacquiao and Bradley are the top guys in the division, but if I want to prove I’m the best these are the fighters I’m now in the mix with.”
However the immediate future shakes out, it’s clear that both sides are pleased with the continued relationship between fighter and promoter.
“I’m absolutely delighted that Frankie has re-signed and we continue a very successful relationship,” promoter Frank Warren said. “He’s been very loyal to me and vice-versa. He’s in a great position in the WBO at the moment and it’s my job to get him the fights to secure a mandatory position and get him that world title this year.”
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com, as well as the Records Keeper for the Transnational Boxing Ratings Board and a member of Boxing Writers Association of America. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
