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05/11/2007
Gavin Goes for Gold
On the 12th and final day of the XIV AIBA World Championships in Chicago, 22 year old, Commonwealth Lightweight Champion, Frankie Gavin, Hall Green ABC, Yardley, Birmingham became England's first ever World Champion.
This was the perfect end to an amazing week of boxing, where our boxers took part in 34 contests and only lost 12, finishing up with four boxers qualifying for the 2008 Beijing Olympics (81kg Tony Jeffries, 64kg Brad Saunders, 60kg Frankie Gavin, 54kg Joe Murray), three winning medals (Gavin gold, Saunders and Murray bronze) and Big David Price remaining undefeated as he was unable to box his quarter final qualifying bout, as he seriously damaged his hand whilst winning his third bout of the championship.
England finished the competition in sixth position in the official AIBA team rankings behind Russia, USA, China, Italy and Kazakhstan.
60kg Frankie Gavin (ENG) bt Domenico Valentino (ITA) 18:10
In his 121st contest and what was to be his 100th victory 22 year old, Frankie Gavin won the second biggest prize in amateur boxing, the world championships, at the toughest boxing tournament in amateur boxing, the XIV AIBA World Championships.
Yet another masterful display of boxing in Frank's sixth contest in 10 days, where he defeated the who's who and where's where of the amateur boxing world, Frank outpointed old time foe Italian, Domenico Valentino 18:10. Barbados, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia and Italy all fell over 24 rounds of quality, thoughtful, clever, and stylish boxing.
Frank and Valentino have boxed each other twice before, the first time in Italy where Valentino won, the second time in England where Gavin won. From their first contest the canny Gavin had worked out his rival's style. This final was too important for Gavin to look to entertain. He did what he came to do. Control the bout from the off.
Gavin allowed Valentino to attack, then Frank beat Valentino to the punch. Being particularly effective with a lead left cross and then when the Italian was looking for Gavin's left hand, Gavin would pick Valentino off with either a right jab or right hook and then spin outside the advancing Italian's left hand.
3:1 at the end of the first expanded to 8:4 at the end of the second, 13:7 at the end of the third and a gentle work-out to 18:10 by the end of the contest. Whilst the score shows that Gavin was always in control, it would be wrong to dismiss the Italian's effort. But, whatever the Italian did, Frank read and coped with really at half pace. It is a credit to the Brummie boxer that he could handle such a big occasion with such aplomb and then charm the world-wide media in the post bout interviews.
One of the many nicknames Fun-Time Frankie is known by is 'Gangsta' so it is appropriate that Frank should break England and Great Britain's world championship duck in the town of the world's most infamous gangster, Al Capone.
At ringside, Frankie said it was the "Best feeling ever, better than beating the Russian, as now I am world champion. Six bouts and my tactics, thanks to Terry, have been spot on each time."
Terry Edwards said of England and Britain's first world champion: "Frank has come through the England and GB system and proved his class in the toughest competition in world boxing. Six wins, against the world's best, says it all."
Gavin added "I didn't expect to be here. It's an honour to share the ring with the Russian. I came here to qualify, I need to thank Bill Meadings and my club coaches Tom Chaney and Steve McHale, a huge thank you to Terry Edwards, Dave Pocknell and Nigel Davies and the medical and support team that have travelled with us on this trip. Again, thanks to the UK Sport lottery funding that makes all this possible."
Full tournament results and related information is available on www.aiba.org
The GB Boxers wish to thank you all for the messages and support passed to the office during the World Championships. These messages were read out to the team every morning and really helped lift their spirits and prepare for the competition.
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