Frankie Gavin fighting bareknuckle (BKFC) on June 28th

Message from Funtime on IG: “just isn’t there anymore. Age and the inactivity”

safe to say we won’t be seeing him again.

I think fighters like Darren Till and Ty Mitchell made the right move transitioning into the “influencer” pantomime boxing on DAZN. Easy money in gimmick fights where they are unlikely to suffer much harm.

 

The Tommy Fury Title up for grabs to anyone half decent

 

A few years ago this would have been ideal for Scott Harrison. Be ideal for someone like Enzo Mac, who trains all the time, and has dynamite in his hands.

 

Gavin was in terrible shape. Not going to get anywhere in BKFC without training Muay Thai clinch fighting and it showed in both fights.

 

A non puncher, going in with no fitness is madness.

 

Spot on about the clinch — first time watching BKFC properly and I expected Gavin and Cox to at least showcase some of that pedigree. Instead, both were completely undone the moment they got tied up. No idea how to fight in that range — just instinctively waiting for a ref to break it up like it’s a boxing ring.

Reminded me of when James Toney crossed into the UFC against Couture — same lost look. There’s way more to BKFC than throwing hands. Clinch is everything. Makes you appreciate why Paulie got handled by Artem.

It’s wild, brutal, and definitely not built for longevity — but yeah, oddly addictive. Wouldn’t be surprised if Prograis ends up trying it. Just hope he does his homework.

 

Gavin and Cox were also soft and flabby compared to their naturally bigger opponents. Then when you factor in age, inactivity and all the wear and tear they have already taken, they didn't really have much going in their favour when you break it down. A lesson learned for those assuming that skills they have exhibited in the past would be enough to see them through.

 

Good point about the conditioning and inactivity — no doubt that played a part. But let’s be honest, these weren’t killers they were in with. Gavin and Cox were up against guys who simply knew how to fight in the clinch under BKFC rules — and that alone was enough to expose them.

Chávez Jr, for all his issues, just went 10 rounds with Jake Paul. Gavin, on the other hand, got sparked the first time things got rough in the clinch, and Cox wasn’t far behind — folded in the second after three short shots. It wasn’t about who hit harder — it was about who adapted. And they didn’t.

Complacency more than anything — and as you said, they were out of their natural weight classes. But with Gavin, that’s always been the story: too much FunTime, not enough fight time.

 

I knew a boxer similar size to Frankie Gavin (won't mention his name to avoid embarrassing him), not a big name anyway (Was British level or just below) and only a few years after retiring I know of a few people who battered him 1 on 1 in a fight. It always shocked me that he was so useless at fighting.

 

Still always a bit surprising that a guy that trained for hours a day every day ends up so uncompetetive even at the end of their careers...out of shape etc.

Should be too accurate against guys that are pretty much following a pretty intense hobby.

Putting it down to steroid use but could be wrong. Never seen either fight but did see highlights of one fight where both guys looked juiced to the gills.

A boy that won an olympic medal that trained for hours every single day should be far more competetive than what he was...even at 40 with wear and tear a bit out of shape etc. Are these bkfc fighters full time. Pretty sure it,ll be a case of doing it on top of holding down a job.

Its a different discipline granted but not so different it should be over a minute in.

 

Gavin looked horrendous. Didn’t look like he had trained at all beforehand in any kind of boxing. Was plugged by a left hand 2-3 times and failed to even move his head.

Didn’t look in good enough condition to fight for more than 2 minutes either.

 

I would’ve agreed with you after watching Gavin — but then Cox came out and looked just as lost. That’s when it clicked: so much of what fighters do is subconscious, hard-wired by decades of boxing training. They both clearly turned up thinking their boxing IQ alone would carry them, but this isn’t boxing.

They looked out of their depth in the clinch, both fighting above their natural weight, and that small, round ring didn’t help either — no space, no reset. It’s not a coincidence they both got clipped the same way. They didn’t do the prep. The paradigm is fixed — decades of muscle memory don’t just adapt overnight.

It reminded me of Toney vs. Couture in the UFC. On the feet, you’re not touching James. But drag him into a grappler’s world, and it’s over. Same here — different sport, different rules. In BKFC, if you can’t control range or manage the clinch, you’re a sitting duck.— especially against guys juiced to the gills, who treat every clinch like it’s a license to unload.

A natural power puncher, in shape and fighting at their proper weight, with even basic clinch work — they’ll mow through the division. Same way a half-cut McGregor probably could too.

 

I agree they all need to work more on the transition but in Jamie Cox he just fought completely wrong, he was trying to get KO with every back hand and falling over his lead leg almost like what a novice would do, this meant he was against the guys chest allowing him to grab and punch in a thai clinch, Now loot at Austin Trout, he uses the skills he learnt in boxing to walk these guys onto punches and just not being there for the typical BK fighters to grab and hit where they are more comfortable.

The biggest thing imo would have been their own arrogance to how tough these guys are and thinking it will be a turn up throw some punches and bang big KO against these BK guys...

 

Gavin took the money and ran at the first opportunity, which is what I would have done tbh

 

I think you’ve nailed the blueprint for how boxers need to tackle these BKFC guys — walk them into punches and traps instead of letting them drag you into a scrap. Just like Conor did with Aldo: patience, timing, precision. Austin Trout’s approach is exactly that — he doesn’t overcommit, stays a step ahead, and lets them rush in and pay for it.

That’s why I’m excited to see Prograis crossover. He’s already mentioned wanting to follow Austin’s path in BKFC. And with his power, spite, and ring IQ, he could do serious damage — especially if he applies that same calculated strategy. It’s a brutal game with real consequences, especially the facial damage but if anyone can adapt and thrive, it’s Regis.