Frankie Gavin ready for Wembley clash against Peter McDonagh
Dec 26 2009 by Ian Johnson, Birmingham Mail
FRANKIE Gavin is not getting an easy ride in the New Year. He has been matched for his next fight at the Wembley Arena against hardman and former Irish champion Peter McDonagh.
The Connemara Kid, now based in Bermondsey, has had 29 fights of which he has won 14 and lost 15, but has never been put down.
For Gavin, it will be his sixth professional appearance and he will be looking for his sixth win inside the distance.
The Brummie light-welterweight has made a magnificent start to his professional career but from here on in, it will get tougher every time.
“And rightly so,” says Frankie, Hall Green’s former world amateur champion. “There is no point in going into the ring at this stage of my career if I don’t learn something.
“My last fight was against a tough Frenchman {Samir Tergaoui], which almost went the full six rounds. Going that distance taught me a lot about pace and stamina but I stopped him with just ten seconds remaining.
“McDonagh has a lot of experience and he has been in with a lot of top fighters, including challenging for the British and the European titles.
“In addition to that, he has never been stopped and he will be a tough nut to crack but I will do it.’’
The main event at Wembley will be the big heavyweight clash between British champion Danny Williams and Commonwealth king Sam Sexton. Chief support is the long-awaited British welterweight championship showdown between reigning champion and outright winner of the Lonsdale Belt, Kell Brook, and the former champion, Michael Jennings.
Olympians James DeGale, Gavin and Billy Joe Saunders open a 2010 campaign that could see them challenge for titles before the year is out.
■ I have to sadly report the death of former promoter Ernie Cashmore, whose funeral was at the Perry Common Crematorium this week.
Dave Roden told me: “I represented the Midlands area council of the British Boxing Board of Control. I fought for him twice as a pro at the old Mayfair suite in the Bullring.
“Also in attendance were Bunny Johnson and two of Ernie’s former boxers, Tony Allen and Von Reid, who both praised their former manager. Don Aageson, the Lynches trainer, and Pat Cowdell also attended.
“Ernie was known by all as the gentleman of boxing. He treated every one of his boxers like a son.”
