Amateur Dramatics: Frankie Gavin and Anthony Ogogo Must Learn Lessons in Defeat

In October 2007, Frankie Gavin made history by becoming the first Englishman to win a gold medal at the World Amateur Championships. The following summer he went to the Olympics, yet he never threw a punch.

Anthony Ogogo threw plenty of them at the 2012 Games. He picked up a bronze medal in the middleweight category in London, making him one of four male fighters from Team GB to get on a podium.

On Saturday, in Birmingham, England, the two former amateur stars suffered tough defeats that put into question their futures in the paid ranks.

Ogogo's unbeaten record was ended by local lad Craig Cunningham, a smart southpaw who has flickered up and down different weight divisions during his previous 17 professional bouts.

It was a shock result, but those can happen in a volatile sport like boxing. The most surprising thing wasn't so much the outcome, but the way Cunningham controlled proceedings for so long. Put another way, Ogogo simply never came to grips with his opponent.

Dropped in Round 2, he exerted a lot of energy trying to make amends without having too much success.

There was no lack of effort on the beaten fighter's part, just an inability to produce the goods under pressure for the first time since the Olympics.

In Round 8, a routine trip to his corner to cut away a loose bit of tape turned into the beginning of the end. Suffering from blurred vision, a struggling Ogogo discussed matters before being withdrawn by his trainer, Tony Sims.

Some on social media questioned whether the problem was more mental than physical. Yet injuries have hampered Ogogo throughout a career that has never gained much momentum.

After twice having surgery to solve longstanding problems on both his left and right Achilles, he suffered a dislocated shoulder in his comeback fight. Those who doubted his heart against Cunningham should perhaps remember Ogogo fought four rounds with only one good arm against Ruslan Schelev in 2015.

The 27-year-old middleweight—who might feel he's gone under the knife more times than a Christmas turkey—has still been active during his time off.

Mark Robinson/Getty Images

Appearances in celebrity television shows Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack, Splash! and Strictly Come Dancing broadened his profile outside of boxing, plus no doubt helped swell the coffers.

But boxing was meant to be his long-term future—now that plan has been plunged into doubt. Never mind the result—Ogogo just didn't do much against an opponent seen as nothing more than a stepping stone.

The same cannot be said about Gavin, who was stopped in Round 8 by Sam Eggington.

As odd as it may seem, Funtime Frankie turned in one of his best displays in defeat. He was brave, busy and flashed moments of brilliance that have been far too scarce since he left the amateur game behind.

The southpaw had more varieties than Heinz. There were right-hook leads. There were swift counters delivered with precision. There was a diversity to his attacks, mixing shots to both body and head.

However, the most impressive thing about the performance was the heart Gavin showed.

Dropped in Round 3 and then again in Round 6, he responded by rallying on each occasion. In the sixth it seemed for certain his race was run, yet he produced a Lazarus-like comeback to not just survive but somehow play his part in a genuine contender for round-of-the-year honours at the end of 2016.

The problem, though, is the cracks were exposed.

Eggington's granite chin allowed him to keep on coming forward, no matter what came back at him. Eventually referee Victor Loughlin stepped in to spare the overwhelmed Gavin from taking further punishment as he sagged down against the ropes in the eighth.

He was rightly praised for playing his part in a domestic thriller, but it also easy to feel a sense of frustration in the aftermath.

Gavin oozes ability, yet he is in danger of letting it go to waste (as a professional at least). The third loss of his pro career wasn't due to a lack of effort in the ring but a lack of focus out of it. Not for the first time, his inability to make the weight proved costly.

At Friday's weigh-in, the 31-year-old tipped the scales more than two pounds over the welterweight limit. He looked drawn and a little doughy (for a boxer at least), hardly in the kind of shape expected for a man whose livelihood depends on counting calories and not cutting corners.

Gavin had previous in terms of weight issues. His Olympics eight years earlier ended before it had begun, as he was unable to get inside the lightweight limit and missed out on competing in Beijing.

His inability to go under 147 pounds before his derby battle with his fellow Brummie, Eggington, was even more of a surprise considering Gavin's pre-fight talk about campaigning at light welterweight in the long term.

"Getting back down to light welterweight is the long-term plan definitely, but you can't turn these fights down," he told Sky Sports. It seems fights aren't the only thing he can't turn down.

Despite Eggington, just 23, claiming the biggest victory of his career, his opponent was the main talking point on Twitter:

Gavin's future should be at 140 pounds. He doesn't have the frame, or the power, to pose enough problems for the best up at 147—just look at how Kell Brook dealt with him in May 2015.

As Matthew Macklin told Sky Sports in his post-fight analysis at the end of the live broadcast, Gavin "needs to have an honest conversation with himself." He cannot continue to play at boxing and hope to reach the top.

Preparation is about much more than just hitting speed bags and logging rounds of sparring in a gym. Just as the late Roy Castle sang in the theme tune for Record Breakers, dedication's what you need.

Take a look at Luke Campbell, an Olympic gold medalist and Ogogo's team-mate at London 2012, for example. After slipping up against Yvan Mendy at the end of 2015, the lightweight made major changes.

In teaming up with trainer Jorge Rubio on a full-time basis in Miami, he committed to spending large chunks of time away from his young family in Hull, England. That level of commitment to his career has coincided with three pivotal wins this year, including stopping the durable Derry Mathews on October 15.

Gavin, like Ogogo, now has work hard to repair the damage done at the Barclaycard Arena. It does not mean the end of the road, more a loud wake-up call.

Their reputations have been damaged for sure, but they can make the necessary repairs and still prosper again, provided they remain fully committed to the cause. They may also need to lower their expectations.

In case it wasn't already obvious though, both now fully understand how amateur glory is no prerequisite to success in the pros. They may share the same principles but are still very different disciplines.

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