How great a wasted talent is Frankie Gavin ?

Did you think he beat Curtis Woodhouse

 

I've never seen it. Was curious.

 

Brilliant amateur, but to be honest right from the off I never expected Gavin to reach anything like those heights as a professional. I don't see this enigmatic talent that others do, and was never convinced by him at any stage.

Everyone seems to assume that the reason his professional career has been a damp squib is because of personal issues or that he hasn't been dedicated enough. But I think it's more to do with him simply not being good enough.

Oddly, the Eggington fight is the only one I remember where he looked any good at all, and definitely the only one where he produced anything which got you on the edge of your seat or admiring his work. He stunk the place out with a hell of a lot of turgid performances before that.

Sure, making the sacrifices in the gym to make 140 where he'd be better suited would have helped, as would the absence of his personal issues, for which he deserves sympathy and credit for tackling. But I don't think those things can be blamed for his style simply never progressing beyond its amateur level, his unwillingness (or inability) to plant his feet and fight inside, his leaky defence etc., all of which he needed to address if he wanted to advance beyond domestic level as a professional.

It's a shame when quality amateurs simply don't adapt to the pro ranks, and a bit of a mystery when it happens sometimes, but I just don't think Gavin was ever going to be a world class fighter regardless of what he did. I gave up on him completely after the Brook fight: a totally undeserved title opportunity, but a great chance of wider exposure and a chance to finally shine (even in defeat) without the usual old "wasn't motivated, need a challenge to get me up" stuff and show that he was this brilliant talent just bursting to get out as his supporters claimed....And instead, predictably, he looked every bit the domestic level plodder he was and seemed to be fighting with zero belief.

I don't particularly think he's underachieved. I think this is just what Gavin is. A domestic, occasionally lower-level European fighter. No shame in that, mind you.

 

talented no question but he wasn't cut out to be a top professional.

 

I liked him but the fact he chose to campaign at 147 said it all.

 

I don’t think he would of been a star in the pros no matter how dedicated and disciplined he was, I don’t think his style was going to be a huge success in the pros.

 

Exactky what I was going to say. His style just wasn’t right for the pro game. Perhaps had he been more dedicated he could’ve worked on those flaws but, like you, I never saw anything to suggest he was some enigmatic talent as a pro.

 

Wasn’t it his promoter who made him fight at 147 and not 140. Someone I know who knew him told me that (not sure how true it is)

 

If your struggling to get motivated for an Olympic medal well
It was in plsin sight all along his lack of dedication

 

He could of developed into a better pro than he was had he been dedicated. It wasn't just a case of not been dedicated, he actually indulged in a life style that simply goes against the grain of been a professional sportsman.
As HM said, the fact he never fought at 140 says it all.

 

Naturally very talented, unfortunately had a couple of set backs in his personal life that would mess anyone up, I felt for him for a while... Found out his kid wasn’t his after bringing him up, that on its own is enough
He had the talent to beat the likes of Eggington, just not serious enough

 

I remember at the very beginning of his pro career, him and billy joe saunders appeared on a few undercards together, starting out as pros at pretty much the same time. Gavin impressed me more early on.