By Peter Wells (twitter @boxingbrains): It seems like only yesterday that the state of British boxing was being questioned, yet tomorrow night anticipation is high as English Welterweights Frankie Gavin and Denton Vassell go head-to-head in a clash of unbeaten fighters.
Opinions are spilt, but after the main event we will know who is the best Welterweight in Britain (not including Kell Brook who is now beyond domestic level). All English dust-ups don’t get much bigger than this, yet the respect between the two boxers before the contest has been pleasant to see in a sport where trash talking and degrading one’s opponent has become almost a formality in some fighters books.
Entering the contest, Frankie Gavin – 15-0(11) – is the favourite. The Birmingham fighter became the first Brit to ever win a Amateur World Championship Gold medal, and turned pro carrying the burden of great expectations.
Frankie’s career thus far has been watched by critics under the microscope, leaving little room for any bad showings. The criticism he received after a hard-fought victory over former footballer, Curtis Woodhouse was unnecessary and over the top. Gavin though took on board the feedback and used it as motivation to produce arguably his best two performances of his career.
Firstly last November he ripped the British title from Junior Witter’s grasp. Witter, is as awkward a fighter as they come, but in the second half of the contest Gavin adjusted and came through to win a unanimous decision.
Then in January this year at Walsall Town Hall, Gavin dominated an outgunned Jason Welborn before scoring a stoppage in the 7th, courtesy of some punishing body shots. I had the pleasure of seeing this fight live, and was pleasantly surprised at just how fast Frankie Gavin looks in person compared to watching him on TV.
As for Denton Vassell, the 28 year old has received the most pressure from himself. To Vassell suggesting he has fulfilled his potential already would be an insult. With each passing fight it seems clear that the boxer born in Lancashire is on his way to shock the world in the same way that Ricky Burns and Jamie McDonnell have.
Vassell now 20-0(10) has not been present in the ring since he handed Ronnie Heffron the first defeat of his career in 6 rounds, which took place last November. Prior to that Vassell first broke onto the domestic scene when he defeated Lee Purdy and won the vacant Commonwealth title which he has successfully defended three times.
In one of those defences Vassell dominated the then unbeaten Bethuel Ushona. The Namibian’s only other conqueror since was former IBF Welterweight champion, Jan Zaveck.
What lies ahead tomorrow night is neigh on impossible to foresee. Vassell’s incredible physique should earn him the alias ‘The Tank’, so it remains hard to envision that Gavin will be able to bully Denton in the same way that he did to a much smaller Welborn.
As for Gavin his speed and ability to counter punch so effectively could prove key to convincing the judges to tilt towards himself in tight rounds.
Expect Gavin to box the majority of the bout off the back foot, circling Vassell and pawing the jab patiently, waiting for his opponent to make an error in which he can punish. Vassell himself is no slouch when it comes to ring generalship, and this will ensure that Gavin will be left with few clear openings to counter.
Both boxers have the skills to win this fight, which is what makes a prediction so hard to make. If I was pushed hard to make a pick, then I would lean slightly towards Frankie Gavin. Whoever takes all the titles at the end, you can rest assured it will be close and leave everyone thinking “rematch” at the final bell.
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