Birmingham boxer Frankie Gavin to front new Debenhams campaign

Sep 15 2010 by Diane Parkes, Birmingham Mail

BIRMINGHAM boxer Frankie Gavin looks a knockout in his new role as a fashion model.

The 24-year-old, from Hall Green, is one of two faces, along with fellow boxer Kevin Mitchell, to front the campaign for new Debenhams menswear brand FFP.

Frankie, whose parents are from Ireland, is due to take on Michael Kelly for the Vacant Irish light-welterweight, his first professional title, at Birmingham’s LG Arena on Saturday.

But he has also been busy helping promote the new range.

“My promoter Frank Warren asked me about doing it in May and I thought it was brilliant,” said Frankie. “I said yes straight away.

“I spent a day doing the photographs for it. At first I was a bit nervous but I soon got used to it. I am used to having my picture taken for boxing but I am not usually dressed up for that. It was hot and we did a lot of clothes changes but I really enjoyed it.”

The range has just been officially launched – with giant posters of both Frankie and Michael at Debenhams stores.

“I haven’t seen the Birmingham one yet but I have seen them in London and Manchester,” said Frankie, a former pupil at Archbishop Ilsley Catholic Technology College.

“There have been a lot of comments on Facebook about me. I didn’t tell anyone except my family that I was doing it so there has been quite a bit of reaction.”