For a young man who is about to perform on the biggest stage of his career so far, Frankie Stringer cuts a remarkably relaxed figure.
As a former Tri Nations gold medalist and national champion, Stringer is used to performing under pressure, but this weekend he takes another huge step in his boxing career.
Stringer made his professional debut back in March 2022, and this weekend’s bout, on the undercard of Liam Smith's huge fight against Chris Eubank Jr, will be his fourth in the paid ranks.
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“Camp has gone well and I am feeling fit and ready,” Stringer tells the ECHO when asked about preparation.
Stringer is no stranger to fighting on big undercards. He made his professional debut on the undercard of Paul Butler’s win over Jonas Sultan at the M&S Bank Arena.
Victories on the undercard of Liam Smith’s win over Hassan Mwakinyo and Peter McGrail's knockout victory over Alexander Espinoza then followed.
But even Stringer himself admits it doesn't get much bigger than boxing on the undercard of this Saturday’s show, which is expected to be a sell-out at the AO Arena.
“This is a massive bill and it can’t get bigger than this so I need to perform and show BOXXER and Sky Sports what I am about,” he says.
“I can’t get better. Normally you are just starting out in the Olympia and you are not getting much publicity. But my manager Liam has helped me a lot in terms of getting more out there on big shows and I can’t thank him enough.”
Not only does Stringer have Smith as his manager, but he is also trained by Joe McNally at his Rotunda ABC base in Kirkdale.
McNally also trains Smith, Josh Taylor, Thomas Whittaker Hart, Caoimhin Agyarko and JJ Metcalf, and is assisted by Declan O'Rourke, another former professional.
“You can’t get better," Stringer says when asked about life in the gym. "Just watching them in the gym and just learning from them. I can’t get much better than that.
“The stable is booming at the minute and it could be one of the best in British boxing, you can't get much better.”
Speaking of Taylor, who is the undisputed super-lightweight world champion,Stringer says: “I can not get better. He is the undisputed champion, unbeaten and what he has done, he is one of the biggest names in world boxing.
“For me to spar him then for him to help me out and tell me what to do, I am just learning from the best. Hopefully I can put it all into play and show everyone what I have been learning.”
Natasha Jonas recently sent a public plea to BOXXER chief Ben Shalom calling for him to make a summer night of boxing at Anfield.
Stringer, a teenager at the time, was in attendance at Goodison Park when Tony Bellew climbed off the canvas to beat Ilunga Makabu for the vacant WBC cruiserweight title.
And even though the former ABA champion is a die-hard Everton fan, he would love nothing more than to be part of a history-making night at Anfield.
“That doesn't bother me [being an Everton fan]. If Beefy wins they are saying that it will be Anfield next so I will be on it,” he reveals.
“That is a dream fighting at Anfield. I know I am an Everton fan, but where it has never happened before it would just be unbelievable.
“To fight on that would be a dream come true. I hope Beefy beats him at the weekend, which he will, hopefully at Anfield near the end of the year.”
But for now, Stringer is focused on staying active, with three fights already in the diary over the next three months, before putting himself into a position to challenge for titles at the end of 2024.
“I will be busy," he tells the ECHO. "Beefy will keep me busy. I think I have got a fight in February and then I think I have got another fight in March.
“This one at the weekend was meant to be six rounds, but they have had to put it back to a four rounder so after this my next fight will be six. Then it will be eight and 10 and gradually learning. Hopefully fighting for titles at the end of 2024.”
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