By Paddy Dwyer: When the boxing arm of the GB Olympic squad returned from Beijing in 2008 with its finest medal haul since 1956, there was one fighter notable by his absence. Birmingham’s Frankie Gavin (8(7)-0) was a pre-tournament pick for many observers to stand out on the world stage and to add an Olympic medal to his World Championship gold from 2007.
However, he was dramatically dropped from the squad with the establishment citing weight issues but inadvertently causing speculation about a lack of dedication and a level of disillusionment with boxing in the vest. Turning over with Frank Warren and being trained by the increasingly reputable Anthony Farnell, Gavin debuted on an “Olympians” card in February 2009 which included appearances from gold medallist James DeGale and fellow squad member Billy Joe Saunders. The light welterweight prospect has not looked back since, stopping all but one of his eight opponents inside the distance. On the 19 February however he participates in his first twelve round fight.
Michael Lomax (17(2)-3-1), an experienced southpaw fighter, has fought at a level above most of Gavin’s previous opponents having already shared a ring with Ted Bami, Nigel Wright, Craig Watson and Kell Brook and proves a good test for the former amateur star. Lomax is not a heavy hitter but he is a tall rangy fighter that could pose Gavin a few problems. The Londoner has a tough task on his hands trying to work out a winning formula with which to beat Gavin but he is tough (stopped only once against Kell Brook) and can be a difficult to read. While not a pressure fighter, the southpaw will certainly throw a fair few punches which may throw his more esteemed opponent off his game.
Thus far though the Birmingham boxer has done all that has been asked of him. Gavin has displayed some wonderful technique for a boxer so limited in professional experience and there has been evidence that he is not scared to trade either. The thing that has impressed the most though has been the variety of his skill set. Comfortable fighting on the front and back foot, fluidity in mixing his shots both to the body and to the head, expertly using the angles to find holes in the defence of his prey, accomplished footwork and an athleticism that makes a mockery of claims that he may not be entirely focused on his training. And all of this has been on show against a plethora of opponents that are above the standard generally expected of a boxer at this stage of his development. The spectrum of skills on display in his career so far makes him a difficult fighter to formulate a solid game plan against.
There are concerns around Gavin however, firstly how marked up he can look post fight. While not being caught with heavy shots, he has still looked puffy and bruised after a number of his pro fights, reminiscent of a Ricky Hatton or Paul Hodkinson. This is of immediate concern for this clash given that both boxers are left handed, there is a chance that heads could clash in the way in. Related to that is the second criticism that his defence is not as fine tuned as his offensive game. While he does not fight ‘open’, Gavin has still been caught by shots that he should be beginning to slip. His style will never lend itself to a peek-a-boo defence or a Mayweather-esque shoulder roll but nevertheless he still needs to tighten up before moving up a level. Lastly, his comparatively slight frame at the weight has prompted critics to claim that he will not be strong enough at the top level to mix it with some real heavy hitters. While not always a disadvantage (a certain Manny Pacquiao has not let it trouble him), it is very rarely an advantage in itself. And the light welterweight division has a habit of throwing up strong fighters who rely heavily on their size advantage (Juan Urango) or sheer power (Marcos Maidana).
For Gavin though, the future is now. A win over Lomax may put him in contention for British and Commonwealth honours. And given the speed at which the young Brummie is beginning to fulfil his potential, who would bet against a win for him at that level sometime this year? World honours have to be the goal though for this impressive prospect. The ten stone division is an impressive one at present with the top fighters also being relatively young (Tim Bradley and Marcos Maidana both 27, Devon Alexander and Gavin’s fellow compatriot Amir Khan both 23). An array of potential great fights await at the top level for all concerned but for the time being, Gavin will have to earn his stripes. Lomax presents a difficult challenge. A boxer keen to show that he still has business at domestic level. A boxer that may be able to take advantage of the one part of his opponent’s game that is not yet comprehensively developed, his defence. However, while Gavin has been tagged before, he should not have a problem in finishing his more experienced foe within four to six rounds and it should not be long before British boxing fans start calling for Gavin to start mixing in more esteemed company.
The boxing world is littered with good and bad luck stories. Very rarely however do you find them both in equal measure in one boxer. Gavin’s Olympic nightmare however may have been a blessing in disguise. Had he boiled down to weight only to struggle half way through the tournament and consequently be beaten by a lesser opponent, not only would his confidence have been shattered but the goodwill of boxing fans upon which the southpaw is currently surfing would have dried up immediately. Terry Edwards’ decision to drop Gavin from the squad must have broken both men’s hearts. But it may prove to be the best decision he ever made (absolving for a moment any blame that one may wish to attach to the coach for the weight gain in the first place). If Gavin can challenge for world honours in the next two and a half years then the former GB coach will deserve more than just a little credit.
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