School is out as Jason Welborn looks to box on

Welborn lost to Gavin in the Brummie's first defence of his crown in Walsall six months ago, stopped in the seventh after he had been down from a body shot.

But the two welterweights have moved on from that fight by helping each other prepare for their next ring assignments, with Gavin the first in action tonight in a double title-fight.

Denton Vassell also puts his Commonwealth title on the line in Liverpool and is considered of a similar ilk to Welborn - a strong, come forward fighter who will look for the big punch.

But Welborn is looking show the skills he has added to the power in his repertoire when he faces durable Pole Tomasz Mazurkiewicz over six-rounds at the Institute in Birmingham.

And the 27-year-old warmed up for tomorrow night's fight by putting on a boxing class for a group of 10 students at the Sutton School and Specialist College in Dudley this week.

The former Midlands champion made a speech about a boxer's lifestyle, diet, discipline and training and then put the children, aged 11 to 15, through their paces in a session.

Pad work, circuits and shadow boxing worked up a sweat and the class finished by watching one of Welborn's fights, from a career where he must now kick on from the Gavin fight.

He said: "As a fighter, I have the strength but, boxing wise, I can learn a lot from Frankie and we get on, we were friends before we fought.

"It's a sport, at the end of the day, he won fair and square and I have been working on the things I was lacking on that particular night.

"He's one of the best at making you miss your punches so it's helped me to get sharper, it's what I need to be fighting the top kids for titles.

"I am helping Frankie out, too, as Denton Vassell fights just like me, he's going to be coming forward looking to catch him with a big shot.

"It's the same techniques Frankie had with me and, hopefully, he has sharpened me up and made me quicker. It could work for both of us."

Even if Gavin wins tonight, all of the domestic belts could become vacant if 'Funtime Frankie,' as expected, steps up to the world stage.

Lee Purdy has also vacated the English title, which is a target for both Welborn and former Vassell victim Ronnie Heffron as they battle for belts.

Welborn said: "There's Ronnie Heffron and if Denton loses tonight, that's both of his belts gone and he might have to step down to English title level.

"I don't think Ronnie is that much of a hard hitter, he does a lot of shouting though! That's what I am aiming at, one of those two next.

"And, at welterweight, if I catch anyone clean, it's over. I could even step up to middleweight and still be strong."