In the World of pro boxing nothing, but nothing, is set in stone until the very moment you actually enter the ring on fight night. So many things can, and do, go awry that it’s definitely a matter of be prepared for any occurrence, especially a last minute change of opponent, which is just what has happened to Welterweight prospect Freddie Turner this week.
This coming Wednesday Freddie was due to face British Masters Light Middleweight Champion Kevin McCauley in a non-championship bout. Without doubt a tough assignment for the Canning Town youngster with just four pro bouts, all wins, under his belt, but with legendary father and son team Jimmy and Mark Tibbs masterminding his preparations Freddie was more than confident he was thoroughly prepared in every way for the showdown.
Then on Friday, just as Freddie began to wind down his camp, he receives the call that instead of McCauley he’ll be facing a different opponent and yet another reigning champ, this time the holder of the International Masters Light Welterweight crown, Edmonton based Mauritian Michael Frontin.
As luck would have it Freddie is more than a little aware of Frontin and his fight style, as well as having been ringside when TRAD TKO Boxing Gym mate Dean ‘Irish Lightning’ Byrne fought him in October, as such he has easily been able to alter his fight plan and is clearly relishing the prospect of adding Frontin’s scalp to his belt, as was clear when he spoke earlier, “Yeah, I’ve got a change of opponent from Kevin McCauley to Michael Frontin.
He was a good amateur, he won a silver medal in the Commonwealths, boxed Frankie Gavin in the final.
I’ve watched him, he’s slippery, got a good jab, he knows what he’s doing. Yeah he’s good, he’s good.
His last fight was against Patrick Liam Walsh, I thought he won it but they gave it to the other kid. I thought he’d done enough to nick it.
He has got a good round and a bad round, so hopefully I’ll get him on a bad round.
He fought Dean Byrne, on Byrne’s British debut, he had a couple of good rounds in that, he gave Dean problems in the fourth and the fifth and later on in the fight so he has got ability, I mean taking on a 14 and O fighter that came from the Wild Card Gym in LA and giving him trouble shows he must be handy.
It’s a good step up, which is what I need. I don’t want to just fight journeymen that just tuck up so you can’t get them, I want someone that’s going to let go so I can find the gaps and hopefully catch him, yeah.”
Freddie Turner, against Michael Frontin, features on the Francis and George Warren’s Queensberry promotions event, headlined by the British and Commonwealth Featherweight title clash between Lee Selby and John Simpson. takes place at the York Hall in Bethnal Green, and broadcast live on BoxNation (Sky platform Ch. 456 and Virgin 546), on Wednesday the 14th December 2011.
Tickets, priced £60 (Ringside) and £40 (Standard Seated), are available now on-line at www.tkoboxoffice.com or from the TRAD TKO Boxing Gym, Gillian House, Stephenson Street, Canning Town, London E16 4SA
