Young Mutley and Frankie Gavin square up

West Bromwich’s Young Mutley and Birmingham’s Frankie Gavin today set the scene in the Black Country
for their all-West Midlands super-fight next week.

The two welterweight rivals came head-to-head at a press conference at the Bellagio Ristorante Italiano on Seagar Street in West Bromwich.

Mutley and Gavin will square off for the vacant WBO Inter-Continental title over 12 rounds on the big Sky Box Office bill at London’s 02 Arena next Saturday night.

Britain’s only world amateur title winner meets the Black Country’s former British champion and Mutley – real name Lee Woodley – promises it will be explosive.

He said: “It’s going to be good fight, I am fit and ready to go. Hopefully I can bring that belt back to West Bromwich.

“Gavin won’t know what hit him.”

But Gavin, undefeated as a pro, doesn’t think his record is in danger.

He said: “I am going to win, I am really fit and as strong as I ever felt. I am not sure he’s even going to hit me, never mind knock me out.”

Also at the 02, West Bromwich’s Marcus Portman takes on undefeated Commonwealth Games gold medallist Jamie Cox in a light middleweight eight-rounder.

Portman said: “He’s an aggressive lad with a good record, but I have the experience to get the job done.”

Cox added: “I am looking forward to it, it’s a live opponent and a big fight.”

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Gavin wants Amir Khan clash

Frankie Gavin has promised he will be challenging for the WBO Intercontinental welterweight title on May 21 as he eyes a clash with Amir Khan.

Gavin faces Young Mutley at the 02 Arena as part of Frank Warren's bumper "This Is It" card headlined by Nathan Cleverly and James DeGale.

And he believes a solid performance could put him in line for a crack at current WBA light-welterweight champion and former amateur team-mate Khan.

Unbeaten Gavin - who is 9-0 with eight stoppage wins - has gone from strength-to-strength since turning pro two years ago.

Last time out he impressed when stopping former Prizefighter champion Michael Lomax in the seventh round.

But Gavin is promising an even better display against Mutley next month as he looks to gate-crash the world rankings, and insists his fight is very much on, despite Matchroom stating that Kell Brook was fighting for it.

"Fighting for a big title at the O2 in front of 20,000 people is going to make me perform to an even higher standard," said former world amateur champion Gavin.

"Believe me, Young Mutley is in for a hard night's work."

Gavin's fellow Olympic teammate, James DeGale, won the British title last December in Liverpool, and watching him ringside made him desperate to get a second strap round his waist having already lifted the Irish light-welterweight crown.

"Getting that WBO Intercontinental belt round my waist is all I can think of at the minute as it will gatecrash me into the top 10 world rankings," added Gavin.

"There is no way I will be leaving the O2 on May 21 without it."

And while Mutley is firmly on Gavin's mind, the confident 24-year-old believes he is already at European level - and with the help of trainer Anthony Farnell, says he will be ready to challenge for world honours by the end of the year.

"I was Britain's first world amateur champion and now I aim to become the quickest Brit to win a world title," he said.

"Khan is a tough fight but I know the way to beat him. Khan is fast, but so am I, and I am the better boxer"

"I want him by the end of the year."

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Frankie Gavin chasing titles after extending contract deal with Frank Warren

Former World Amateur Champion "Fun Time" Frankie Gavin has extended his deal with Frank Warren and has been added to the exciting May 21 card at the O2 Arena.

And the Birmingham welterweight is even eyeing up a bout with Amir Khan next year as he aims to fulfil his promise,

Gavin is Britain’s only ever Amateur World Champion and has been widely talked about way before he turned pro in 2008.

The 25 year old was regarded as Britain's best hope for Olympic gold in Beijing but could not compete after struggling to make the lightweight 60kg limit.

He has now committed himself to Warren until 2014 after impressing during his nine professional fights so far.

Frank Warren said: “When Frankie won the amateur world title I knew he was a special talent."

"Britain had never had an amateur world title before, and I am sure that Frankie will repeat his success in the professional ranks."

"I have been very impressed with the progress he has made in his nine fights so far."

"He's come on a long way in the last couple of years, and I am looking forward to developing him into a world class talent over the next couple of years."

‘Funtime’ Frankie stopped Michael Lomax in the 7th round of their British title eliminator in February on the same night Ashley Theophane beat Lenny Daws for the Lonsdale belt.

But he did not get the answer he wanted from Theophane when he challenged him to a bout, with the Leicester man stating that he and Gavin were at different stages of their career.

However, that has not deterred him and Gavin says he feels ready for the step up in class.

"I feel that I am ready for the British, Commonwealth and even European titles right now,” said Gavin.

"There's no one in the UK I wouldn't fight, and my ultimate aim is WBA light-welterweight champion Amir Khan."

"A showdown between me and him next year would be one of the biggest fights in boxing."

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