Former Irish champ Gavin faces Crunch IBF clash against Van Heerden

Frankie Gavin will challenge Chris van Heerden for the IBF International Welterweight title clash on May 9 at the Barclaycard Arena in Birmingham, live on Sky Sports.

Gavin will headline in the second city in Matchroom Sport’s first major show there for 13 years and his first fight in the city since September 2010, and his meeting with the South African visitor will follow an appearance on the undercard of IBF World ruler Kell Brook’s first title defence in Sheffield on March 28 as the Birmingham star chases a future showdown with ‘The Special One’.

Van Heerden has beaten British opposition before having defeated Matthew Hatton in March 2013 in his then-hometown of Johannesburg, defending his IBO World title for the second time in the process. The 27 year old now fights out of California and picked up the belt he defends against ‘Funtime’ in Birmingham in January , knowing a victory on foreign soil would see him burst into World title contention in the lucrative 147lb division.

“It’s a massive fight for me and a huge one for my first big night in Birmingham,” said Gavin. “Fighting in Birmingham means so much to me and now I am going to do so in a massive fight as the headliner of a great bill. It’s time to get my profile up, get happy, get winning, looking good again and getting on the path to a World title.”

World rated Middleweight Matthew Macklin boxes in Birmingham for the first time in almost five years as he looks to bounce back from defeat to Jorge Sebastian Heiland, unbeaten Super Flyweight sensation Kal Yafai will be in title action on the card and his brother Gamal will continue his rise in the pro ranks while all-action Stourbridge youngster Sam Eggington will be hoping for a major title bout on the bill should he beat Shayne Singleton in Hull on March 7.

Tickets are on sale at 9am today (February 18) to Matchroom Fight Pass members priced at £40, £60 and £100 and £150 VIP fromwww.matchroomboxing.com

Tickets go on general sale from 9am tomorrow (February 19) with tickets priced £40, £60 and £100 from www.barclaycardarena.co.uk and VIP tickets priced at £150 exclusively available from www.matchroomboxing.com