Former World amateur gold medallist, Frankie Gavin is to target the Irish belt as the first title of his career when he takes to the ring in his hometown at Birmingham’s LG Arena on Frank Warren’s ‘Magnificent Seven’ bill which also includes fellow Irish-Brummie Matthew Macklin.

The Manchester-based prankster, nicknamed ‘Funtime’, was originally to face one of his former footballing heroes, ex-Birmingham City midfielder, Curtis Woodhouse for the International Masters title on the September 18 show. However, Woodhouse subsequently sustained a hand injury during his victory over Stefy Bull and pulled out leaving Gavin open to fight for an Irish title.

“Once Curtis pulled out, the Irish title got mentioned. I would be much more happy to fight for an Irish title than any International Masters title, to me that would mean nothing but winning an Irish title would mean a lot to my family and a lot to me.  I do want to fight Curtis Woodhouse at the same time, but I think I would take the Irish title first and then Woodhouse” explained an animated Gavin.

Frankie, whose father hails from Derry and mother from Tipperary, may now face unbeaten Dubliner Dean Byrne or Sheffield’s Adam Kelly for the Irish light welterweight title, a belt last won by Cavan’s Andy Murray in 2007, who went on to defeat Oisin Fagan for the lightweight title in February of this year.

No stranger to an Irish ring Gavin outlined, “I have good support over there, I had 300 of my own fans when I fought in Belfast and had good support from Templemore and Borrisoleigh and from the north of Ireland, Strabane mainly. I stayed there for a weekend after the fight and that was good fun. I really enjoyed Belfast, I enjoy Ireland, as an amateur I boxed in Edenderry and I boxed in Dublin also.”

Before this fight Gavin will have to cut his weight down to the 140lb light welterweight limit, something he has yet to achieve in his pro career and he is hoping to have some Irish assistance in working the extra pounds off during sparring with Dublin amateur champion Phil Sutcliffe Jnr and former Irish professional champ Peter McDonagh.

Also on the bill, Matthew Macklin will attempt to regain his continental crown from Londoner Darren Barker when the pair face on the SKY Sports Pay-Per-View offering for the European middleweight title.