“There is no reason it shouldn’t happen” – Frankie Gavin calls for Amir Khan clash

Frankie Gavin was over in Ireland preparing for a fight that he feels could lead to a massive Amir Khan clash.

The former Irish champion has been doing the rounds around and in Dublin gyms in preparation for his IBO welterweight title fight with Bethuel Ushona.

The former World amateur champion has been in the Celtic Warrior Gym, Crumlin, and the gym of current BUI Celtic welterweight titleholder Jay Byrne sparring and being hounded for selfies in a bid to get into shape for a fight that has now been put back a month to March 24th.

A minor ankle injury suffered whilst sparring Byrne has forced a four-week delay, but the World Amateur champion is keen to chase Khan should he defeat Ushona.

Gavin admits the IBO isn’t the most prestigious of the World titles, indeed it’s not recognized by most fans, but points out if it’s good enough for the likes of Anthony Joshua and Chris Eubank Jr it’s good enough for him.

The 32-year-old also believes it could be a stepping stone to a massive fight with new Matchroom signing and former WBA-IBF light welterweight champion Khan.

The Birmingham fighter, of Tipperary and Derry heritage, has suffered losses to the likes of Kell Brook and Sam Eggington in recent times, but believes he is still a worthy opponent for Khan.

Gavin hopes the IBO title could prove tempting for the Bolton native and stresses he is a better fighter and a bigger draw than Khan’s April 21st comeback opponent Phil Lo Greco.

“I want the Amir Khan fight. I am a lot better than this lad Lo Greco. If he is looking to get back in with steps up, step up and fight me,” Gavin told Irish-Boxing.com after he sparred John Joyce and Ray Moylette in the Celtic Warrior Gym.

“I am a better fighter, I will have the IBO and I am a definite step up. It’s a good fight on paper and I am well known in Britan so there is no reason it shouldn’t happen.”

While Gavin doesn’t seem to think Lo Greco will cause the Olympic silver medalist any problems, he has no issue with the Matchroom fighter, who has been linked with Kell Brook forever and a day, ending a two-year absence by trading leather with the Canadian.

“The Lo Grecco fight is what it is. He hasn’t fought in a long time and his last fight was a big KO loss. Amir has to find his bearings again and obviously he hasn’t been living the boxing life of late, being in the Jungle and that.”

“I am not putting him down or anything like that I would probably have done the Jungle myself for that money, but he does need to find his bearings in the ring again. You’re never going to forget it all in terms of boxing, but you have to get used to being punched in the face again and basic stuff like that.”

“I won’t knock him for the fight, but I am a definite step up and one that makes sense so let’s see,” he continued before revealing he has insignificant sparring previous with the English fighter.

“We sparred years and years ago, maybe 10 years or so. You can’t take too much out of that. Don’t get me wrong I did very well against him, but you can’t read too much into that.”

“It’s just a fight I want, one I always wanted so lets put the gloves on and have a scrap.If it makes money it makes sense to Eddie – I am pretty sure Amir Khan versus me is bigger than this fight.”

For Gavin to beat Brook to a Khan fight he would first have to overcome Ushona. He is confident of defeating the Namibian whose only fight on British soil was a 2011 reverse to Denton Vessell and believes victory could open doors for him.

“If I win this fight I will have an IBO World title. I know it’s not one of the big four, but a lot of the best fighters have it Joshua, Golovkin, Lara, Eubank and quite a few other names. It will be good to have my name up with those fighters.”

“I have been watching him for years. When I was WBO #2 he was #1 so I was watching him assuming it was a fight that was going to happen and now it is happening,” the former Irish light welterweight champion explained before going into his reasoning for visiting Dublin.

“My trainer Dean Edwards has a lot of family in Dublin, my Mam is from Tipperary and my Dad from Derry so there is that Irish connection there and it’s always nice to get over. We have been Crumlin, Celtic Warriors, and over with Jay Byrne doing some altitude training and I have got some great sparring.”

“We just wanted to get away and use the time to gel. We know each other well, but boxing wise it’s been good to build on that.”