JOSHUA FRANKHAM RECKONS we can expect some explosive performances from Levi Frankham, now that his younger cousin is joining the pro ranks.
Super welterweight Levi will make his entry into the professional arena on Friday evening on the same card as Joshua – who is working his way down to welterweight – and one headlined by the IBF world flyweight title showdown between Moruti Mthalane and Sunny Edwards.
Joshua is better placed than most to give us the lowdown on Levi, with the pair having grown up together in the amateurs and currently sharing a gym in Southampton under trainer Wayne Batten as professionals.
According to Joshua, 22, his 20-year-old cousin likes to apply the Big Bang Theory when he gets to work.
“He will be in exciting, exciting fights – every fight is gonna be exciting with big knockouts,” predicted the Reading-based Frankham. “You are guaranteed knockouts with him, he is a big puncher and massive at the weight.
“So there will be some amazing nights for both of us, but Levi particularly.
“He goes for the jugular and when he hits it is game over. He will be fan friendly, people love knockouts and that is what you will get with Levi, definitely,” added the 2-0 pro, hoping to make it a treble on Friday, who says Levi has employed a technical side since joining his gym.
“He is learning a lot and has improved so much under Wayne. Before he was come forward, pressure, pressure, pressure and he would beat them down, but now he is sort of learning to box a little bit and is more relaxed and calmer.
“He is looking a lot better and I am looking forward to a big performance from him.
Of course, there is another Frankham – Charles – who is now moving in Queensberry circles and Joshua reveals the three cousins were a formidable trio growing up.
“Charles is a tremendous talent, who can go all the way. We are all close, but we haven’t been together as much as when we all boxed together as amateurs.
“We were a tight team, especially at Pinewood and The Ring and we were running amateur boxing at one stage. We will look to do it again in the pros.
“Charles was always the Daddy during the schoolboy years because he won everything, but I started holding my own with him and won titles, so we all did equally as good.
“It would be a sell-out if we were all on the same bill. Guaranteed! York Hall in September, what a night that would be.”
In the main event of the behind closed doors London card brilliant South African Moruti Mthalane (39-2, 26 KOs) defends his IBF World Flyweight championship against Croydon’s Sunny Edwards (15-0, 4 KOs).
In a ten rounder, Belfast’s Michael Conlan (14-0, 8 KOs) faces dangerous Romanian Ionut Balata (14-2, 3 KOs).
Darlington’s Troy Williamson (15-0-1, 11 KOs) faces Scot Kieran Smith (16-0, 7 KOs) in a final eliminator for the British Super-Welterweight title, held by Ted Cheeseman.
Southampton Super-Featherweight Ryan Garner (9-0, 6 KOs) is also in action, along with a debut for super welterweight Jonathan Kumuteo.
