Frankie Gavin ready for first six-rounder against durable Steve Saville

Oct 30 2009 by Ian Johnson, Birmingham Mail

FRANKIE Gavin knows he must overcome some tough hurdles if he is to become a world champion and tonight in Liverpool will be his first – Steve Saville.

Brummie Gavin has won all three of his professional fights in some style – none of them have gone the distance.

Those opponents were carefully selected and were never going to be a real threat. Not so Walsall’s Saville.

He’s durable, tough, hard as nails, been stopped once, stocky, and can be very dangerous.

On paper Gavin should win this at a canter. Everything in his armory is better than Saville’s.

But Saville will not accept defeat until Gavin’s hand is raised.

The Black Country “Bomber” can hit and street fight. If Gavin is not careful he could get roughed up.

Saville, massively confident of putting up a good show, told me: ‘‘I will go into the ring regarding Frankie as my worst enemy. He is actually a very nice guy but this is business.

“I will be moving up a weight but that will suit me. I will have even more power behind my punches.

“I am hoping the fight will be on TV and I can assure you that there is no way I will put in a bad performance on the box.

“After this one I will drop back to lightweight and defend my Midlands title before Christmas. It would be great to do that as the first guy to beat Frankie Gavin.”

Gavin said: ‘‘I know all about Steve and I know what to expect but more important for me is my performance. This is my first trip over six rounds and I want to get those rounds in.

“Steve is experienced and I can learn a lot. How I win doesn’t matter all that much.”

British welterweight champion Kell Brook has been clobbered by a viral infection that will keep him out of his British welterweight title defence as the top of the bill.

The Lonsdale belt holder was due to meet Michael Jennings at the Echo Arena in a mouth-watering domestic clash.

The fight will be rescheduled as soon as possible, while Jennings will feature in an eight rounder on action-packed card which is now topped by the British super-middleweight title fight between champion Tony Quigley and challenger Paul Smith.