Frankie Gavin v Junior Witter: A crossroads fight

Next Thursday 1st November, two very different roads of the British welterweight division will intersect in the charged atmosphere of the York Hall in Bethnall Green, London. The historic venue will host former world champion Junior Witter’s first British title defence, against undefeated former world amateur champion ‘Funtime’ Frankie Gavin. 

It’s an intriguing battle between fighters at polar opposite stages of their careers. 38-year-old Witter (41-5-2, 22 KO) has competed against some of the world’s best in-and-around the weight class. Having progressed from winning British, Commonwealth and European titles in the light-welterweight division he claimed the WBC title beating DeMarcus Corley in 2006. At 140lbs he has been in the ring with a number of elite level opponents; Zab Judah, Lovemore Ndou, Andriy Kotelnik, Vivian Harris, Timothy Bradley and Devon Alexander.

Gavin, 27, had a decorated amateur career winning Commonwealth Games gold the year that Witter won his world title. The following year he won the gold medal at the 2007 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Chicago, to become English boxing’s first ever world amateur champion. In the harsh professional ranks however, Gavin is relatively inexperienced. Now 13-0, with 10 knockouts, some of his performances have been a little laboured and question marks have been raised over his fitness and commitment to the sport, insisting he was living up to his ‘funtime’ billing a little too much outside of the ring. In his toughest test to date, he was fortunate to get a split-decision verdict over former footballer Curtis Woodhouse, in a fight where he struggled all night long to deal with Woodhouse’s jab.

Witter isn’t impressed with the Birmingham prospect and is predicting an early finish.

‘I’ve got the experience, know-how and I’ve been there, seen it and done it, what has Frankie Gavin done so far? I’ve been in the ring with everyone (in sparring) from Naseem Hamed, Johnny Nelson and Ryan Rhodes to Kell Brook and Kid Galahad.  I’ve mixed it with all weights from flyweights to heavyweights, amateur champions to world champions, so a 13 fight novice doesn’t worry me.’

‘People will say that I’m 38 and past it going in against a young challenger like Gavin. My answer is that I’m still mixing it with the youngsters in our gym and the 18, 19 and 20 year olds and that’s keeping me young and fresh.’

‘There’s nothing in Gavin’s armoury or make up that bothers me, his punches, skills, nothing. Everything he does I’ll have an answer for and I’ll take him out by the fourth round.’

The Bradford switch-hitter has always been a trash-talker and it would perhaps be accurate to say that he has often barked louder than he bites. Few will be surprised therefore that he expects an easy nights’ work with Gavin, but it will be surprising if he does dispatch his challenger early like he predicts.

After being stopped by Alexander to relinquish his WBC title three years ago and moving up to welterweight, Witter has lost two of his six fights and hasn’t stopped anyone. Gavin seems to have a decent chin, yet may lack punching power at 147. If you’re a betting man here you’re going to go with a points win either way.

Who would you put your money on though? Intriguingly, we don’t know how much Witter’s skills have eroded. We don’t yet know how good Gavin is.

That’s the beauty of a crossroads match-up. This is a pick-em up fight. A good fight.