On Saturday likeable Brummie welterweight Frankie Gavin takes on West Midlands rival Sam Eggington for the vacant WBC International title. It appears that this is a fight where the two boxers respect each other professionally but genuinely do not like each other.
For me Frankie has never reach the potential he should have since becoming the first English boxer to win a World amateur title. With his ability Frankie could and maybe should have been a professional world champion or certainly in that league of boxers.
Some of his career decisions have been baffling and none more so that going in with Kell Brook who gave him a beating.
An early warning sign was when he failed to make the weight to compete in the 2008 Olympics. He has been Irish, British and Commonwealth Champion but I think when he reflects on his career it might be full of “what ifs”.
I have seen a number of Frankie’s fights and If Saturdays clash comes down to boxing ability then Frankie could box Sam’s ears off. However what Sam has in bucket loads is desire, fitness, and courage. To win Frankie has to keep him at distance and then use his undoubted class and ability.
Sam on the other hand will be keen to spoil it and deny Frankie the time and space he needs and I am sure Sam is quite prepared for the fight to go the distance. So it could come down to who has trained not only the hardest but the smartest.
It is a clash of styles to savour and there is an argument for it going either way, but if I am pushed I would just lean towards Frankie winning what should be a close contest.