Former Commonwealth (British Empire) welterweight champion Frankie Gavin is confident that he will end the reign of fellow countryman, Kell Brook, the current IBF welterweight champion, when the two square off on May 30th from the O2 Arena in London.
Brook, who is unbeaten in 34 fights, returned to the ring in March after recovering from an unprovoked machete attack last September while on vacation with his family in Tenerife. Brook, who admittedly was in fear for his life in the attack, didn’t fear Jo Jo Dan – dominating and stopping Dan inside the fourth round in front of his home fans of Sheffield.
Gavin, Britain’s only amateur world champion, speaking with Sky Sports, is determined to shock the world.
“When it first got announced, I was over the moon, but now I’m on the business side of it – training very hard, harder than I’ve ever trained.
“I expect to come out on top. I know Kell Brook is a great fighter, but I can beat him. I’ve got the style to beat him.”
“I’m doing a lot of different things and training with more intensity, pushing myself to boundaries I’ve never pushed myself to before. I really think I’m going to surprise a lot of people on May 30.”
“I expected to be here a bit earlier than I am. I had a few problems early in my career. I think it’s the right time and I’m as ready as I’ll ever be. I really do think I’m going to win this fight.”
“I’m a good counter-puncher and I think technically I’ll be the best fighter Kell will have been in with. I think many would agree.
“Obviously, people say I’ve got a lot more than I’ve shown. When I’m winning, I just like to win when I could do a lot more. On the 30th, I’m going to have to do a lot more but I’m going to give him problems he’s never faced before.”
However, Gavin has been on the losing end before. Just last August, Gavin lost a split-decision to then 39-year old Leonard Bundu. Bundu, who is also a former Commonwealth champion, hasn’t fought since December 2014 when he thoroughly white-washed by interim WBA World welterweight champion, Keith Thurman. Thurman who is regarded as one of the strongest punchers in the division today.
Gavin pinned the blame on himself for losing focus. As an undefeated fighter at the time, he admitted that he was more determined on protecting his record than remembering the basics that got him to where he is today. Though he still thought the fight was close and admitted that he learned a valuable lesson in the end.
“Before you’ve lost you are so keen on protecting your ‘0’ that you forget about other things. I’ve proved a lot of things to myself – when it gets tough I can go with it. I showed my heart and battled through and took over towards the end of the fight.”
“A lot of people thought I won. Some thought he won. It was very close. There was only a point in it at the end and it could have gone either way. If anything, it’s given me strength and I’m not really thinking about the loss now.”
“This is no foregone conclusion. I can understand him looking past me because he’s the champion but I’m coming to take his title and push him as far as I can. Hopefully, that’s enough.”
