Frankie Gavin (boxer)


Frankie Raymond Gavin is an English former professional boxer. He challenged for the IBF welterweight title in 2015 and, at regional level, held the British and Commonwealth welterweight titles. As an amateur, Gavin won a gold medal in the lightweight division at the 2007 World Championships, becoming England's first ever winner of that event. He also won lightweight gold at the Commonwealth Games.

Amateur career

Domestically as an amateur, Gavin represented the Birmingham's Hall Green Boxing Club with whom he won the English ABA championship in 2005 and 2007 and a Four Nations championship in 2005.

2006 Commonwealth Games

Representing England, Gavin defeated Giovanni Frontin of Mauritius to win the lightweight division gold at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia.

2007 World Championships

At the 2007 World Championships in Chicago, Gavin first beat reigning world silver medallist and fellow southpaw Romal Amanov of Azerbaijan scoring a knockdown. He then caused a huge upset by defeating Russian superstar Aleksei Tishchenko, unbeaten in four years, to reach the final where he beat Italian Domenico Valentino 19:10.

2008 Summer Olympics

Gavin was arguably Great Britain's best hope of a boxing medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics, but was unable to make the required weight and was therefore unable to compete.

Professional career

In October 2008, Gavin announced that he would turn professional. He signed a contract with promoter Frank Warren and agreed to be trained by Anthony Farnell in Manchester. He made his pro-debut at the National Indoor Arena in his home city of Birmingham on 28 February 2009, stopping George Kadaria in the fourth round.
On 18 September 2010 at LG Arena in Birmingham, he won his first professional title by defeating Michael Kelly in the fifth round for the Irish light-welterweight title. He qualified to fight for the title as his parents are Irish.
Gavin won the British welterweight title on 1 November 2012, by dethroning defending champion Junior Witter via unanimous decision at York Hall in London.
He made a successful first defense of the title with a seventh round stoppage win over Jason Welborn at the Town Hall in Walsall on 18 January 2013.
Gavin faced unbeaten Commonwealth welterweight champion, Denton Vassell, at Liverpool Olympia on 28 June 2013, with both their titles up for grabs. He unleashed a heavy onslaught of blows in the seventh round leaving his opponent with a broken jaw which caused the fight to be stopped on the advice of the ringside doctor at the end of the round.
On 21 September 2013 at the Copper Box Arena in London, he defended both his titles against David Barnes, winning by unanimous decision.
At Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle on 29 Match 2014, Gavin survived being knocked to the canvas in the second round by Sacky Shikukutu to go on and retain his Commonwealth title via unanimous decision.
In his next fight, he lost his unbeaten record and Commonwealth title to European welterweight champion, Leonard Bundu, suffering a split decision defeat at the Civic Hall in Wolverhampton on 1 August 2014. One of the ringside judges scored the fight 117–115 in his favour, but was overruled by his two colleagues who both saw it 114–113 for his opponent.
Gavin retained the now vacant Commonwealth crown, and defended his British title, with a unanimous decision win over Bradley Skeete at ExCeL in London on 29 November 2014.
He challenged IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook at The O2 Arena in London on 30 May 2015, losing by stoppage in the sixth round.
Gavin lost to local rival Sam Eggington by eighth round technical knockout at Arena Birmingham on 22 October 2016.
He was scheduled to challenge European welterweight champion Kerman Lejarraga at BEC Bizkaia Arena in Bilbao, Spain, on 17 November 2018, but failed to make the required weight by almost 5lbs. The fight went ahead with the title no longer up for grabs and Gavin was knocked out in the fourth round.
Gavin announced his retirement from professional boxing in May 2020.

Bare-knuckle boxing

Gavin made his Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship debut against Jack Dugdale on 28 June 2025 at BKFC 77. He was knocked out inside the first minute of the opening round.

Personal life

As of June 2025, Gavin was in a relationship with professional boxer Sian O’Toole with whom he has a son.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
30Loss26–4Kerman LejarragaKO4, 0:1917 Nov 2018BEC Bizkaia Arena, Bilbao, SpainFor European welterweight title
29Win26–3Kevin McCauleyPTS616 Sep 2018Holiday Inn, Birmingham, West Midlands
28Win25–3Felix MatamorosTKO6, 1:323 Jun 2017Lagoon Leisure Centre, Paisley, Scotland
27Win24–3Renald GarridoPTS813 May 2017Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham, England
26Loss23–3Sam EggingtonTKO8, 2:4222 Oct 2016Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham, England
25Win23–2Ivo GogosevicTKO6, 2:4630 Jul 2016First Direct Arena, Leeds, England
24Loss22–2Kell BrookTKO6, 2:5130 May 2015The O2 Arena, London, EnglandFor IBF welterweight title
23Win22–1Bogdan MiticPTS1028 Mar 2015Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield, England
22Win21–1Bradley SkeeteUD1229 Nov 2014ExCeL, London, EnglandRetained British welterweight title;
Won vacant Commonwealth welterweight title
21Win20–1Mate HornyakTKO2, 2:4724 Oct 2014Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, England
20Loss19–1Leonard BunduSD121 Aug 2014Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, EnglandLost Commonwealth welterweight title;
For European welterweight title
19Win19–0Sacky ShikukutuUD1229 Mar 2014Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle, EnglandRetained Commonwealth welterweight title
18Win18–0Bradley PrycePTS1021 Dec 2013First Direct Arena, Leeds, England
17Win17–0David BarnesUD1221 Sep 2013Copper Box Arena, London, EnglandRetained British and Commonwealth welterweight titles
16Win16–0Denton VassellTKO7, 3:0028 Jun 2013Liverpool Olympia, Liverpool, EnglandRetained British welterweight title;
Won Commonwealth welterweight title
15Win15–0Jason WelbornTKO7, 2:3518 Jan 2013Town Hall, Walsall, EnglandRetained British welterweight title
14Win14–0Junior WitterUD121 Nov 2012York Hall, London, EnglandWon British welterweight title
13Win13–0Laszlo Komjathi5, 3:0025 May 2012Newport Centre, Newport, Wales
12Win12–0Kevin McIntyreTKO3, 2:2225 Feb 2012Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, Wales
11Win11–0Curtis Woodhouse1216 Jul 2011Echo Arena, Liverpool, EnglandRetained WBO Inter-Continental welterweight title
10Win10–0Young Mutley1221 May 2011The O2 Arena, London, EnglandWon vacant WBO Inter-Continental welterweight title
9Win9–0Michael LomaxTKO7, 2:4219 Feb 2011York Hall, London, England
8Win8–0Michael KellyTKO5, 2:5918 Sep 2010LG Arena, Birmingham, EnglandWon vacant Irish light-welterweight title
7Win7–0Gavin TaitTKO1, 2:0715 May 2010Boleyn Ground, London, England
6Win6–0Peter McDonagh613 Feb 2010Wembley Arena, London, England
5Win5–0Samir TergaouiTKO6, 2:515 Dec 2009Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle, England
4Win4–0Steve SavilleTKO2, 2:3230 Oct 2009Echo Arena, Liverpool, England
3Win3–0Graham FearnTKO2, 2:2518 Jul 2009MEN Arena, Manchester, England
2Win2–0Mourad FraremaTKO3, 2:5915 May 2009Odyssey Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland
1Win1–0George Kadaria4, 1:3928 Feb 2009National Indoor Arena, Birmingham, England