FORMER AMATEUR SUPERSTAR Charles Frankham revealed that he is in the process of adding power to his array of attributes as he seeks to make himself noticed in the professional ranks. Frankham will next feature on January 28 at the OVO Arena, Wembley on the undercard of the blockbuster world light heavyweight title collision between the unified champion Artur Beterbiev and Anthony Yarde. Now 6-0 and with a glittering amateur career behind him, the 23-year-old knows he could utilise his skills from the vested code and quick-step his way to success without taking much by way of punishment. But Frankham is keen to move away from the tip-tap and move style that served him so well in his youth and wants to start putting some meat into his shots. “It would be ‘he’s boring’ if you don’t come to fight and put big shots in,” reasoned the Crowthorne man known as ‘Boom Boom’. “Mayweather got more technical later in his career and everybody said he was boring. People need to be excited to see you.” Since teaming up with trainer Roger Lee, Frankham’s punch output has featured some noticeable venom and his shots are starting to sting, as his last opponent Sandeep Singh Bhatti will testify to. Singh Bhatti is much more than simply prospect fodder, he comes to win and always makes a fight of it. Frankham rose to the challenge and passed with flying colours. “We knew he would come and we knew he would be game all the way through the fight. He doesn’t come to take shots and sit on the ropes. He came to fight instead of just taking punishment. “Adding some force is what we’ve been working on and creating more power. It is coming now, I am coming into a man’s body now at 23, so I am getting a bit of strength behind me now. “I feel like I am punching harder and I just need to put it all together now. “When you are throwing big shots you obviously do risk a lot more and with being inside too, you can get caught. “You are going into a boxing match so you are gonna get punched anyway!” added Frankham, who also believes boxers need a personality to go with their punch. “You’ve got to be entertaining and you’ve got to be a face as well. You need to have the skill and ability. Some of these fighters coming in, the YouTubers, are not good boxers but they are making a fortune messing about in the ring. “So obviously you need to be a face and need to be a face that people like.” Tickets for Beterbiev vs Yarde at the OVO Arena, Wembley on Saturday, 28 January are available from AXS.com and Ticketmaster.co.uk.

NEW FRANK WARREN lightweight Charles Frankham completely lost track of time when considering exactly how long he has been out of the ring.

The hugely decorated, multi-titled former amateur star returns to the ring on July 24 at the SSE Arena, Wembley with the intention of reminding everybody just why he was considered one of the brightest young talents from within these shores to come through the amateur system.

The actual date of his last venture into the ring is June 21, 2019, but clearly time flies for young Frankham when he isn’t fighting.

“It is a year I think… Is it two? I thought it was a year…,” pondered the winner of 11 National titles – including the junior ABAs and the Three Nations twice – along with a World Youth Championship bronze medal and gold at the Commonwealth Games and European Championships. “I definitely can’t believe it and it shows how quick the time is going. To be honest with you, the last year has been hard for everyone, but to be out of the ring for two years isn’t good.”

For Frankham however, he insists it has been time well spent, beefing up his previously slender frame and working on his art.

“I’ve been working very hard in the gym, practicing a lot of things and obviously I have matured a lot since back then. My body physique is changing. Look back to when I last boxed and I just look like a skinny kid, which is what I was, but now I have been working hard on S&C, eating properly and doing everything right.

“It is all coming together and, even though it sounds silly, every week I can see different parts of my body changing.

“After staying out of the ring for so long and wanting to box for ages I have got with Frank and he has got me out straight away. Now it is my time to show everyone what I have been working on and how good I am.”

Frankham’s work ethic includes making the significant sacrifice of spending his working week away from home at Loughborough University where he is trained by Angel Fernandez on campus.

“Definitely, all my mates and family are back home and even though I have got a few friends around this area it is still not the same,” considered the 21-year-old from Crowthorne in Berkshire. “Obviously I spend more time with Angel and the people at Loughborough than I do with my own family.

“It is not like it is just around the corner where I can go home if I want to. I am 140 miles away and on a Monday morning, first thing, I get up, have a shower, say goodbye then I am gone.

“It is hard at my age to do this, but hopefully it will pay off in the long run.”

Considering his pedigree and amateur accomplishments, coupled with the fact he is with a new promoter after two years out, Frankham insists he will not feel under increased pressure to perform when he is back under the lights at Wembley.

“Not really. Everyone knows how good I am and after two years I am coming back against an opponent who has never been stopped and has boxed a few good people.

“I spoke to Angel the other day and we are just going to go in there, take our time and look to get the rounds in. I will see what he is all about and if I can get the stoppage I will. He said to not go in there and just blast him out because it will be good to get some rounds,” he explained, before acknowledging that he does need to entertain and impress on his debut under the Queensberry banner, pointing out that some new-found punching power has come into play.

“I know that. In the gym, the way I have been punching and everything – to be honest, I don’t know where it has come from! Before I never used to throw body shots and I had an amateur style.

“Things are coming better to me now,  and I have been stopping people in sparring with body shots.

“Hopefully all the work I have put in and improvements I have made has done me the world of good and we will soon find out on the 24th. I feel I have got better and I am maturing into my body now and I look a lot better in pictures and clips.

“I am boxing at lightweight for this fight, where I am comfortable having gained some man strength, even though I haven’t stopped growing yet.”

Joe Joyce v Carlos Takam for the WBC Silver and WBO International titles takes place at the SSE Arena, Wembley on July 24.

Hamzah Sheeraz (12-0, 8 KOs) makes the third defence of his WBO European title against Spaniard Ezequiel Gurria (15-1, 3 KOs).
 
Swansea’s Chris Jenkins (22-3-3, 8 KOs) will finally defend his British and Commonwealth welterweight titles against Nottingham’s Ekow Essuman (14-0, 5 KOs) after recovering from injury.
 
In a well matched fourth title fight, Peacock gym ace Chris Bourke (9-0, 6 KOs) defends his WBC International super-bantamweight title against Bloxwich’s James Beech Jnr (12-1, 2 KOs).
 
There is also heavyweight action featuring David Adeleye (6-0, 5 KOs), while Mill Hill’s George Fox (3-0) will make his Queensberry debut. Reading super-featherweight hope Charles Frankham (2-0, 1 KO) has also been added to the stacked bill., along with ‘The Gent’ Micky Burke Jr (4-0, 1 KO) who also returns after his first stoppage victory in November last year.

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ELITE FORMER AMATEUR and 2-0 professional Charles Frankham has signed with Frank Warren to fight under the Queensberry banner.

‘Boom Boom’ began life in the pro ranks in May 2018 with a points victory over Tzemal Xouseinoglou in Nottingham before returning to the ring the following month to score a first round stoppage over Ilgvars Krauklis at York Hall.

Prior to turning pro, the 21-year-old enjoyed a hugely decorated stint in the amateurs that yielded 11 National titles – including the junior ABAs and the Three Nations twice – along with a World Youth Championship bronze medal and gold at the Commonwealth Games and European Championships.

Frankham trains in Loughborough under the stewardship of Angel Fernandez.

“I needed a change and Frank is a great promoter,” said Frankham, grandson of former British light heavyweight champion Johnny Frankham. “He has got so much great talent at the moment – including another Frankham (Josh) as well – and at this point in time, and in the future, Frank is right for me.

“Queensberry and Frank is definitely the place to be for young fighters, one million per cent. Frank has been getting all his fighters out during this difficult period and, now I am part of the team, I am looking forward to getting back in the ring myself.

“I am still young and I have got a load of time to achieve my goals. I just want to be active and I have said all along that if I just get a couple of fights then I will fight anyone. I think I settled into the pro style pretty well and I believe I was always suited to it, although I know every young fighter says that when they turn over.”

A rare blot on Frankham’s amateur card came in the 2018 senior ABAs when he was defeated over three rounds by now promotional stablemate Mark Chamberlain. Frankham doesn’t rule out a revenge mission in the paid ranks.

“Definitely, that is not a problem and it will be a good fight down the line. A card with us Frankhams on would be a good one too.”

Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren added: “I am delighted to welcome Charles to the team. He was an exceptional amateur and he clearly has a bright future as a professional.

“He wants and needs to be kept busy and our track record over recent times during this pandemic has demonstrated our total commitment to the ongoing development of our young fighters and we will quickly get Charles’ career back on track and guide him towards a successful future.”

Charles Frankham will make his long-awaited professional debut at the Motorpoint Arena Nottingham on May 10 in the next instalment of the JD NXTGEN series, shown live in the UK on Sky Sports and DAZN in the US.

Frankham, 19, enjoyed a glittering amateur career in which he won multiple titles including a World Youth Championship bronze medal, a Commonwealth Youth Games gold medal and a European Championship gold medal, as well as 11 National titles.

Known as ‘Boom Boom’, the Crowthorne talent has been preparing for his pro debut with trainer Tony Sims at the Matchroom Gym in Essex and is delighted to finally begin life in the paid code at Super-Featherweight next month.

“I’m over the moon to be making my pro debut in Nottingham,” said Frankham. “We had a little bit of a setback but I’ve been training hard in the gym with the rest of the lads and I’m ready to announce myself on the big stage on May 10.

“I’m lucky to be part of a buzzing gym, I’ve been sparring with Joe Cordina and Conor Benn who are both fighting and the big April 20 show at The O2 and they’ve been bringing me on leaps and bounds. I’m ready to get out there now and make my mark.”

Frankham makes his pro debut on a huge night of boxing in Nottingham.

At the top of the bill Chatteris talent Jordan Gill (23-0, 7 KOs) makes the first defence of his WBA International Featherweight title against Mexico’s Enrique Tinoco (17-5-4, 12 KOs) and Nottingham’s Leigh Wood (21-1, 11 KOs) makes the first defence of his Commonwealth crown against former Champion Ryan Doyle (17-3-1, 9 KOs).

Unbeaten Wokingham Middleweight Felix Cash (11-0, 7 KOs) returns to make the first defence of his Commonwealth title, Sheffield’s most successful ever amateur boxer Dalton Smith makes his highly-anticipated professional debut at Super-Lightweight, undefeated Ipswich Heavyweight Fabio Wardley (6-0, 5 KOs) continues his march towards a first title, exciting New Jersey Super-Featherweight prospect Raymond Ford (1-0) fights in the UK for the first time as a pro and Denaby Lightweight Terri Harper (6-0, 3 KOs) gets another opportunity on the big stage after winning the WBC International Female Lightweight title in her last fight.

Follow Charles’ journey on his Twitter: @CharlesFrankham and Instagram: CHARLES_FRANKHAM

Charles Frankham has signed a promotional deal with Matchroom Boxing.

‘Boom Boom’ enjoyed a glittering amateur career, winning 71 of his 77 bouts, collecting a World Youth Championship Bronze medal at 52kg, a Commonwealth Games Gold medal at 60kg and European Championship at 52kg along the way, as well as eleven National titles.

The 19-year-old from Crowthorne trains under the watchful eye of Tony Sims in Brentwood, Essex and is excited to begin life in the paid code at Super-Featherweight at The O2 in London on February 2nd.

“I’m over the moon to have signed a promotional deal with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing,” said Frankham. “They are by far the best in the business and I’m confident putting my career in their hands. I can’t wait to make my professional debut at The O2 next month, I’m aiming to impress. I enjoyed my time in the amateurs but now is the right time to turn over and make my mark in the pros.

“Make ‘em miss and make ‘em pay is the ‘Boom Boom’ Frankham way. My defence is one of my main attributes and I’m a spiteful counterpuncher. If I need to mix it up them I’m well equipped to do that as well. Fighting is in my blood; I was born to box. My grandad Johnny Frankham was a British Light-Heavyweight Champion and a huge inspiration to me – I intend on doing my family proud.

“I’m really lucky to have a brilliant team around me in the gym. There’s great sparring for me with the likes of Martin J Ward, Ricky Burns and Joe Cordina – they’re all similar weights to me. This year it’s all about building experience in the gym and in the ring. I’d like to get a few fights under my belt by the end of the year. My long-term ambition is to go all the way to the top and get as many belts as I can.”

“I’m delighted to welcome Charles to the team,” said Eddie Hearn. “His outstanding amateur pedigree speaks for itself and he has all of the attributes to be a big success in the paid ranks. I can’t wait to see his exciting new journey get underway at The O2 next month.”

Follow Charles’ journey on his Twitter: @CharlesFrankham and Instagram: CHARLES_FRANKHAM

Tickets for February 2 priced at £30, £50, £80 and £150 are (VIP) available to purchase from StubHub (www.stubhub.co.uk), The O2 (www.theo2.co.uk) and Matchroom Boxing (www.matchroomboxing.com)