Focused Gavin after domestic crown

Frankie Gavin has set his sights on an assault on the British title within his next three outings.

The smooth-boxing Brummie [pictured nailing Michael Lomax with a right on the way to a seven-round stoppage win a year ago] has his first outing in six months and tackles former Lonsdale Belt-holder Kevin McIntyre in an all-southpaw eight-rounder in Wales this weekend.

That's on the undercard of Nathan Cleverley's BoxNation-televised WBO world light-heavyweight title defence in Cardiff [February 25] and Gavin has trained harder-than-ever for a 33-year-old Scot who may have eight defeats on his 39-bout paid tab [30 wins, one No Contest, and nine stoppages] but who holds wins over some decent men.

Tony Doherty, then 20-0, was comfortably outpointed over ten and Kevin Anderson lost his British welterweight title to the Paisley postman by almost shut-out margins. He repeated the trick against Anderson three months later, in February 2008, and has subsequently scalped touted Stephen Haughian for the Celtic belt, seven-fight unbeaten John Wayne Hibbert in Prizefighter and, last time out, twice hauled himself off the floor in the opener to take a 30-minute nod over Gary McMillan.

Yet Frankie, now permanently training and living in his home city after well-documented stays in Manchester and London, has admitted to feeling as sharp as he ever has since entering the paid ranks - on the back of an amateur career that was topped by a World Amateur gold, never before or since done by a British boxer - three years ago. 

Settled and happy, both inside and outside of the ring, back in Birmingham with old amateur coach Tom Chaney, the Frank Warren-promoted welter has also nonchalantly shrugged off several changes of opponent. Originally set to face dangerous Welsh puncher Jason Cook, Gavin was then penciled in to meet Gary McMillan until McIntyre was finally settled on two weeks ago.

But an impressive win against the veteran could set him on his way to a purists dream showdown with neat-boxing British 10'7 champion Colin Lynes, who so impressively ripped the belt away from big-hitting Lee Purdy in November.

And the quick-footed, fast-fisted West Midlander admitted he'd like to be in with Lynes as soon as Frank Warren can secure it. "Hopefully i will be in a position to box for the British title within three fights," he said ahead of a 24-minute test with a man who's swapped punches with Kell Brook and former WBC world 10st king Junior Witter.

"I feel ready now but time will tell if i'm given the chance as quickly as i'd like," added a 26-year-old Birmingham City supporter, 11-0 (8), from the Yardley area of the Second City.