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Gavin's amateur record irrelevant says Woodhouse

Frankie Gavin is yet to lose as a professional © PA Photos

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Former footballer Curtis Woodhouse believes Frankie Gavin's enviable amateur pedigree will count for nothing when the pair meet in the ring at Liverpool's Echo Arena on Saturday night.

Gavin defends his WBO Intercontinental welterweight title against Woodhouse, who enjoyed spells with Sheffield United and Birmingham City before turning to boxing in 2006, aiming for an 11th straight victory in the professional ranks.

It was as an amateur when Gavin's talent stood out, the Birmingham-born fighter winning gold at the Commonwealth Games in 2006 before becoming Britain's only amateur world champion a year later.

Despite his formidable amateur background, and bright start as a professional, Woodhouse remains convinced that Gavin's impressive CV will not be of any help to him come fight night.

"I didn't have a single amateur fight at all, car parks and nightclubs were where I had my amateur experience," he told ESPN. "Frankie has a lot more experience than me but you look through boxing history and there are a lot of good fighters who have not had good amateur careers. Look at Johnny Nelson, he was a world champion for six years despite losing 10 of his 13 amateur fights and four of his first five as a pro.

"If you can fight, you can fight in boxing and you don't need to have an extended career. Frankie Gavin hasn't lost a fight in eight years and I've only been boxing for four and a half - that just shows the difference in careers we've had. But when the bell rings it's all level and we can all get knocked out."

Woodhouse, 31, was due to meet Gavin last September but was forced to pull out due to a hand injury. The midfielder-turned welterweight has 15 wins from his 17 fights and he is determined to make people stand up and take note.

"I've had people slam the door in my face and not take me seriously because I'm an ex-footballer but I just want the respect of the people in the boxing fraternity and my opponents; ask any of my opponents if I'm for real and definitely 12 of them will say yes as 12 of them have been knocked out," he said.

"There will always be people who will be talking about my football background in the build-up to a fight but once the bell rings normally their attitude will change pretty quickly."

Gavin, a Blues supporter, has stoked the fires ahead of the domestic clash by saying: "Woodhouse played for Birmingham City but I hardly ever saw him because I only watched the first team. He didn't make it as a footballer and he won't make it as a boxer."

Despite Gavin's mocking, Woodhouse has warned his rival to write him off at his peril. He said: "I'm expecting a tough fight, Frankie is a former World Amateur Champion and it'll be the fight of my life. But I'm ready to go to hell and back to win it, I'll be coming forward all night long throwing hard, powerful shots and if one of them hits him, he's getting knocked out.

"I'm not in this sport for the fame and fortune, I'm in it for the accolades, the titles and for the recognition of being good at my profession. I just want to become a champion."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.