Frankie Gavin helps out in white collar
Smethwick's Andre Martin had the backing of one of the best welterweights in the country when he turned his hand to white collar boxing again.
The 30-year-old could call on decorated amateur and successful pro Frankie Gavin for assistance in the build up to his third bout,
Birmingham's 'Funtime Frankie' is England's only-ever male world amateur champion and was fancied to win a medal at the 2008 Olympic Games, but failed to make the weight.
Gavin then turned to the paid ranks and won both the British and Commonwealth titles, relinquishing the belts for an unsuccessful crack at IBF world champion Kell Brook earlier this year.
The two met through the Shireland Inn pub in Smethwick, who sponsor Gavin and did so for Martin so they could hand the proceeds for charity.
The fight purse was split 50-50 between Macmillan Cancer Support and the Huntington's Disease Association, with Gavin ringside for the show at the Imperial Banqueting Suite.
Martin scored a victory for the first time at 69.5kg on points over Wolverhampton favourite Andy Gilkes over three, two minute rounds, taking the last two sessions after drawing the first.
But gamesmanship was the real winner, with Martin saying: "Andy is a great guy, we had a good fight and then a drink and a chat afterwards.
"And what can I tell you about Frankie. He was always on the phone if I needed advice and he gave me a lot of tips. I was even going to train with him, but there wasn't enough time before the fight.
"It definitely helped me in there. I stuck to the basics of getting my feet right, working off the jab and making myself harder to hit. It paid off."
White collar boxing takes people with little or no experience and puts them through a proper training camp, to get them ready for a contest against an opponent at the same level.
They tend to be office workers, hence the term, but can vary towards all sorts of occupations. In Martin's case, he's a driving instructor.
It's different to the unlicensed circuit, which features some fighters who were carded amateurs and, in some cases, even ex-professionals.
The dangers of the sport are always there, but Martin counters that he's been taught how to operate in the right way, out of the Alpine Gym in West Bromwich.
He said: "I have twin girls and a busy job, so it wouldn't suit me having a proper boxing career now, particularly at my age.
"White collar is for people who want to try out the sport, in a controlled environment. Some show an aptitude and take it up seriously, so they move on.
"It's important not to have mismatches, because no one wants to get hurt. I've learned you have got to have self-discipline. Even here, you need to be dedicated or there's no point.
"It's not about scrapping, it's about learning skills and putting them into practice. Getting fit was a big pull for me, too. For my last fight, I've never been so low in weight."
