Gavin can hit the heights – Farnell

TOP trainer Anthony Farnell says world amateur champion Frankie Gavin is as good as anyone he has ever worked with.

And ex-world champion Farnell includes former gym-mate Ricky Hatton in that assessment.

Gavin (23) will make his professional debut early next year after signing terms with Frank Warren.

Until then he will be working with top trainer Farnell in Manchester, as well as new sparring partners Joe Selkirk, Tony Bellew, Anthony Crolla and Steven Bell.

“Skill wise, Frankie is as talented as any boxer I’ve trained with,” said Farnell, who has Crolla, Bellew and Bell in action this Friday at the Kingsway Sports Centre in Widnes.

“I’ve been taking him on the pads these last couple of weeks, and while I knew before he came to my gym that he was good, I didn’t realise just how good he is.”

That’s quite a compliment from Farnell, who first trained with Brian Hughes, then moved to Billy Graham, and has sparred with the likes of Hatton, Michael Gomez, Matt Macklin, David Barnes and Matthew Hall.

“There are a few things that Frankie needs to work on if he’s going to make it as a professional, like getting more shots off and sitting down on his punches, but all the basics are there already and he’s a super talent.

“Amir Khan showed at the weekend that you can punch and move as a professional and get spectacular results, and I expect to see the same from Frankie.

“I don’t believe in changing fighters too much when they come to my gym, and I won’t need to change Frankie.

“I remember talking to Floyd Mayweather Snr a while ago, and he told me boxing comes down to three things - keeping your chin down, having a good jab and putting your hands up high.

“I might not have done too many of those things when I was a professional, but it’s the first thing that I instill into the fighters in my gym.

“Frankie has got those three basics, and he’s beginning to move really well too, so everything is coming together nicely.

“I’m so excited about the future because all the boxers that I work with have got the word ‘champion’ written all over them.”