Galal excited to be main event in Brum

Galal Yafai and Tommy Frank at the press conference

GALAL Yafai, the Olympic gold medallist being fast-tracked to world honours, has already fought in Dubai and at Madison Square Gardens in a career stretching only four bouts.

On Saturday, the 30-year-old returns to the city where his all-conquering career began, Birmingham.

The flyweight, part of a famous Second City fighting family, headlines Matchroom’s “Nxt Gen” show at the Utilita Arena.

In the opposite corner will be Sheffield’s former British champ Tommy Frank, a solid, experienced, but fairly light punching foe taking part in his 19th bout.

Ominously, Frank has won only two of his last five and is coming off a 10th round stoppage loss to Jay Harris, a defeat that cost him the British title.

That’s not the form needed to derail someone of Yafai’s calibre, a man plunged into a 10 rounder on his debut.

At yesterday’s (Thursday’s) press conference for the big fight, Galal was described as a quiet man, an individual who lets his fists do the talking.

With brothers Kal and Gamal in attendance at the Grand Hotel, he kept answers short and concise.

“I don’t get to stay in Birmingham too long,” he said, “because I’m training in Sheffield. I’m excited and looking forward to putting on a show on Saturday. I’ve fought all over the world (amateur and pro).

“I’ve known Tommy Frank for a while, he’s a good fighter.

“I think I’m ready now (to face the world’s best), but I just need the experience. There’s always that bit of pressure, but I love boxing.”

He added: “Tommy hasn’t got that much pressure, he’s expected to lose.”

A little brutal, maybe, but a fair assessment of the task Frank faces. He knows it, too.

Galal poses for the cameras

Tommy said: “It’s an opportunity to change my life on Saturday night. He won the WBC international title in his first fight.

“He’s a very accomplished fighter from a boxing family. He’s the fighter with the most pedigree that I’ve faced.

“Coming back off a loss, I didn’t think I’d get this opportunity. I did get it and it’s the chance of a lifetime. I have respect for Galal, I think I’m going to draw the best out of him and he’s going to draw the best out of me.

“I’m going to grab this opportunity with both hands. Throughout my career I’ve shown I have a lot of skill, I can box to plan, box to orders, but I do like coming forward.

“I think it’s going to be a good fight with good punches thrown. I think I’m going to be a lot better than people think I am.”