Historic gold for Gavin

Lightweight Frankie Gavin has won England's first ever gold medal at the World Amateur Championships.

Birmingham lightweight becomes England's first amateur champion

Lightweight Frankie Gavin has won England's first ever gold medal at the World Amateur Championships. The 22-year-old from Birmingham beat Italian Domenico Valentino 18-10 in the Chicago final on Saturday night to take the title. Gavin will now be the favourite to take the Olympic title in Beijing next year, and the youngster is ecstatic. "It is the best feeling ever to be world champion. I've fought six bouts and my tactics have been spot-on each time," he said.

History

Head coach Terry Edwards added: "He came through the system and has proved his class in the toughest competition in boxing. Six wins against the world's best says it all." The Hall Green fighter hit the headlines after his semi-final victory over Russia's long-standing number one Alexey Tishchenko. And the Commonwealth gold medallist's success rounds off a remarkable World Championships for England, with Bradley Saunders and Joe Murray also securing bronze medals - doubling the previous total tally of English medal winners at the tournament.