West Midlands derby foes square up

The anticipation to the West Midlands boxing derby reached fever pitch today as Wolverhampton's Dean Harrison and Birmingham's Frankie Gavin met face-to-face.

Harrison and Gavin talked tough at a press conference at Birmingham's Hilton Hotel in the National Exhibition Centre this afternoon, ahead of their WBO Intercontinental title fight on December 11.

The two light welterweights going head-to-head at Liverpool's Echo Arena is the biggest all-West Midlands fight since Birmingham rivals Matthew Macklin and Wayne Elcock clashed for the British title last year.

Macklin was also on hand today, ahead of his European middleweight title defence against Ruben Varon on the same bill.

And Black Country boxer Harrison, who known his opponent for over a decade, insists there will be no friends come fight night.

He said: "It doesn't matter who he is when I go in there with a game plan that I have worked on.

"It's a step up for him and it's a fight that had to happen for the West Midlands."

Gavin is the hot favourite after becoming the first Englishman to win a world amateur title, before a seamless transition into the pro ranks.

With that in mind, 'Funtime' Frankie has vowed to take 'Deano' out.

He said: "If I turn up on the night and box to the best of my ability, there there's only one winner.

"Every time I step into the ring it's a world title fight for me, I am expected to win and if I lose I am back to the drawing board."

Tickets for the show are available from Ticketmaster on 0844 844 0444 or from ticketmaster.co.uk.