Cook's trainer '100%' confident of victory over Gavin

By John Dunleavey: This Saturday, Frankie Gavin will be aiming to improve his record and push on towards a British title shot later in the year. In the opposite corner that evening and hoping to hand Gavin his first loss will be experienced Welshman Jason Cook. The man plotting Frankie’s downfall will be Jason Cook's experienced trainer Darren Wilson.

Wilson has trained numerous Welsh fighters and recently become the fitness coach for Nathan Cleverly. South Wales boxing fans are hoping for a boost after Jamie Arthur lost his Commonwealth title on the 5th Feburary .

How did the opportunity to fight Frankie come about?

DW: We were preparing for a fight on the 5th of March, and we received a call on Sunday and it was an opportunity that we couldn’t turn down. It’s not ideal having five days notice for a tough fight but Jason went over to Italy with ten days notice and stopped the EBU title holder out in 2002.

With Frankie Gavin being a slick southpaw how are you planning to get the better of his style?

DW: The last time Jason boxed he faced Barrie Jones and he was a southpaw but no disrespect to Barrie, he isn’t in the same class as Frankie. We are looking to get the best out of Jason, we know Frankie is a good boxer but we will concentrate our own game plan. Jason has looked good since coming back from retirement, stopping three opponents including then unbeaten Michael Grant. Many people didn't think we wouldn't of put such a gutsy display in against Daws after such a long period out of the ring, but we were unlucky not to get the win. Jason lost against Gavin Rees, but there is no shame in losing to an ex world champion.

People may see Cook as the underdog as he isn’t the household name or the up and coming name, do you think Jason likes the title of being the underdog?

DW: Jason will thrive on being the underdog. As I said, he went over to Italy with ten days notice and knocked Sandro Casamonica clean out, I think he was unconscious for around half an hour. Since coming back Jason has looked good and he wants to prove a lot of people wrong. Apart from the power Jason has got the boxing skills to beat Frankie (he won an ABA title in the featherweight division in 1993 and a Commonwealth Games Silver medal back in 1994).

What’s your prediction for the fight, Darren?

DW: Win for Cook 100%.