Former British flyweight champ, Tommy Frank, says he’ll upset the applecart when he gets top billing this Saturday August 19th at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena live on DAZN.
The Sheffield fighter takes on rising star Galal Yafai for the WBC International flyweight crown.
Galal comes from great fighting stock – being the brother of top Brummie boxers, Kal and Gamal Yafai – and had a stellar amateur career, culminating in winning the Gold Medal at the 2020 Olympic Games. Turning over in February 2022, the 30-year-old has already impressed in the pro ranks by racing to 4-0 (3), with his team showing their total confidence in him by making this early-career match against Frank.
‘Super’ Tommy has lost just three of 19 bouts and, in that time, has picked up various titles, the most significant being the British 8st crown in 2021. Despite losing that honour in his last outing in May in a battle with Welshman Jay Harris – Tommy, 30, is confident he’ll have too much for fledgling fighter, Yafai.
“I think they’re overlooking me,” insisted Frank. “I have a lot of respect for Galal and Robert McCracken and he’s got a good team around him. So, I don’t think they personally will be overlooking me but I just get the sense that, in general, maybe by Matchroom and others. Of course, that’s all because he’s an Olympic gold medallist and it’s to be expected, in a way – so it doesn’t worry me.
“Despite being a former British and Commonwealth champion, in some ways it’ll be a big upset in boxing [if I win]. A win in his backyard will get me a lot of credit and kudos, I’m going there to spoil the party and really looking forward to the occasion.
“To be honest, this is probably the biggest fight of my career. The highlight, so far, has been winning the British Title but winning this fight with the eyes of the boxing world on me, live on DAZN, could be life-changing financially and mean appearing on bigger shows.
“I honestly wasn’t expecting this opportunity coming off the back of the loss to Jay Harris; it’s fallen into my lap and was too good to turn down. And I’m intending to make the most of it.”
Manager and promoter Dennis Hobson, said: “I think Tommy’s being slept on a bit in this fight. Maybe people are looking at his loss to [Jay] Harris and reading more into it. Jay is a world class fighter and Tommy matched him and had the better of him at times, before running out of steam
“Tommy’s a consummate professional. He’ll be super fit and is huge at the weight and I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see him coming out on top in Galal’s home city.”