Frankie Gavin Set To Turn Pro, Sign With Frank Warren

by James Slater — Promoter Frank Warren is set to sign another big boxing star – an amateur star, anyway. But 23-year-old Frankie Gavin, who, aside from an Olympic medal, has won just about everything that is worth winning as an unpaid boxer, is determined to become a star of the pro ranks also. As has been reported widely on the net and in various newspapers, Gavin will sign a deal with Warren next week and will then begin his pro career in the light-welterweight ranks early next year.

“I haven’t signed yet, but I’m very close to signing, the deal should be done next week with Frank Warren,” Gavin said. “He made his interest known quite a while ago. He’s the best promoter in Britain by far, if not the world. I’m going to base myself in Manchester with (former fighter, now trainer) Anthony Farnell. He’s got some of my mates up there and the lads I’ve spoken to gave me a good talk. So as long as the contract gets signed next week that is what will happen.”

This is good news for Warren, who has seen some bad luck just lately. Amir Khan, widely seen as one of the promoter’s most promising future superstars, was sensationally knocked out inside a minute, and Joe Calzaghe, the finest fighter on Warren’s books, acrimoniously parted ways with him a short while back. In need of new talent, Warren will get it with the gifted Gavin.

Most famous in many quarters due to his shock failure to make weight for the Beijing Olympics, where he had been viewed as a favourite to capture a medal, the 23-year-old now hopes to put that disappointment behind him and capture professional gold.

“What happened at the Olympics was a great shame,” Warren said. “He was world champion since the age of 17. I think he’s won a medal in every international tournament he has been in. He has been a very successful amateur and I’m sure he would have come back from Beijing with a gold medal. Anyway, now he’s moving on and hopefully he will go on to bigger and better things.”

Indeed. And Gavin will be a welcome addition to Britain’s light-welterweight scene. You can pretty much expect Gavin to be moved fast, as that seems to be the way of things right now in boxing in the U.K – just look at guys like Nathan Cleverly, Don Broadhurst, Paul Appleby and others, fighters contesting titles after only a small number of pro bouts.

It will be exciting following another talented young fighter’s progress in 2009 and beyond.