By Shaun Brown
British and Commonwealth welterweight champion, Frankie Gavin 19-0 (12) announced on Twitter earlier today that he will challenge for the European title against holder Leonard Bundu 30-0-2 (11) on August 1 at a venue to be confirmed.
(The European Boxing Union website states that the contest will take place in Wolverhampton.)
Bundu’s last defence was in fact on British shores when he stopped the game Lee Purdy in the twelfth round of their contest last December in London. Gavin, a two-time world amateur medallist, will be facing his toughest test to date against the 39 year old veteran and will be looking to better his best performance to date when the gifted 28 year old outclassed Denton Vassell TKO7 last June when defending his British and Commonwealth titles.
Gavin, promoted by Frank Warren, was dropped in the second round of his most recent fight against Sacky Shikukutu but eventually came through with a UD12 victory Namibian. That blip highlighted the fact that Gavin struggles to get up for opponents that arguably don’t motivate him. A fight against Bundu certainly will and a win for Gavin could set up a world title shot for the WBO ranked number-three contender.
BoxingScene.com caught up with Gavin who was in confident mood looking ahead to the fight.
“It’s a great step-up for me and obviously the best fight I’ve ever fought,” Gavin believes. “When I’ve had the step-up that’s when you’ve seen the best of me. As an amateur when I went all around the world I boxed fighters that were better than Leonard Bundu. I expect to win, win well. Technically I’m better than him, I’m younger than him, fresher than him and expect to win comfortably to be fair and the European belt to my collection and hopefully that’ll move me into top three in all the organisations.”
Gavin also gave his thoughts on Bundu’s last defence against Purdy.
“I watched it live. From about the seventh or eighth round I thought Purdy was going to get him out of there,” Gavin commented. “But then he just blew up and kept going forward in straight lines and someone with the skill and mindset of Bundu it plays into his hands and it made him look good.
“Don’t get me wrong he is good but he’s coming up against a completely different obstacle in me. I’m not gonna walk forward without moving my head trying to knock him out. I’ll be looking to pick my shots and land a lot more than he lands. If the knockout comes it comes. I’ll be prepared for a hard twelve rounds and the best man will win.”
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