Undefeated ‘Fun Time’ Frankie Gavin served up a severe beating to the former Prizefighter champion Michael Lomax at the spiritual home of British boxing – The York Hall, in London. Gavin, who took this fight with just a few days notice following a number of cancellations, was merciless and magnificent, charging forward and battered Lomax into submission inside seven rounds.
Although a light welterweight, Gavin stepped up to 147lbs and was noticeably the smaller man. Showcasing far superior footwork, ‘Fun Time’ was able to make space and get in range as Lomax had little answer to the Birmingham brawler’s ring craft.
Once in position, Gavin began snapping out his jab, working it like a piston, taking away Lomax’s height advantage and beating him to every punch. Nevertheless, despite winning each round, the British prospect was sloppy in his defense, allowing Lomax to land leather on more than one occasion. Still, a sign of a real star is the ability to take a hit and come back fighting, and this is exactly what ‘Fun Time’ did.
After taking serious punishment for six rounds and with both eyes marked, Lomax was finally felled by a sinister looking left in the seventh which rattled his ribcage, forcing his corner to throw in the towel.
Gavin was outstanding in the unpaid ranks, and Britain’s only ever amateur world champion. His next fight will be back at light welterweight and so long as he keeps the power he showed and works on tightening that defense, Britain may well have another world beater in the making.
Also on show at the old York Hall was a mouthwatering domestic dust up between ‘Big Bad’ John McDermott and Larry Olubamiwo for the Southern Area heavyweight title.
McDermott, the unluckiest man in British boxing, showed tremendous heart and ability as he breezed through the bookies favorite, Olubamiwo, inside round one.
Four defeats in his last four fights, against top domestic opponents Danny Williams and Tyson Fury, could have signaled the end for ‘Big Bad’ John, especially as, but for dubious decisions and ill health, he may have won them all.
Olubamiwo was whacked, walloped, thumped and crunched as he showed unbelievable immaturity from the opening chime of the bell. For some bizarre reason, possibly believing his own hype too much, Olubamiwo came flying forward attempting to go toe to toe against a much more experienced and shrewd operator.
After just thirty seconds, the simplest of left hooks was enough to wobble Olubamiwo and McDermott was not about to let him off the hook. He stormed forward knocking Larry to the canvas with another left. Although up at the count of eight, ‘Big Bad’ John was straight on his man again, unleashing a barrage of punches, forcing Olubamiwo against the ropes. Again Larry was knocked down and with almost two full minutes remaining in the first, referee Jeff Hinds had seen enough and ended the bout.
McDermott surely now deserves another shot at domestic honors, but with the British division boasting a wealth of talented fighters it may be hard to see him conquering. Nevertheless it looks like Britain’s most unfortunate bruiser is back and maybe, just maybe, his luck is changing.
