The 22-year-old controlled the contest from the start to claim victory and admitted: "It is the best feeling ever to be world champion.

 

"I've fought six bouts and my tactics have been spot-on each time."

 

Gavin's performances in Chicago mean he will quickly have to get used to being regarded as the Olympic favourite for his division - something head coach Terry Edwards believes he deserves.

 

Edwards said: "Frankie is England and Great Britain's first world champion.

 

"He came through the system and proved his class in the toughest competition in boxing.

 

"Six wins against the world's best says it all."

 

 

 

Gavin had cut a swathe through the world's best lightweights from the start, when he took less than three rounds to completely outclass Omar Ward of Barbados 20-0.

 

 

 

 

 

But it was the manner of his semi-final victory over Russia's long-standing number one Alexey Tishchenko which finally showcased the enormous potential of the 22-year-old Hall Green fighter.

 

 

 

 

 

Gavin's win was the first time Tishchenko had tasted defeat for four years and means the unassuming Gavin can expect plenty of overdue attention in the run-up to the Beijing Games.

 

 

 

 

 

Gavin has already scooped a Commonwealth gold medal in style last year but his delighted trainer Tom Chaney said his victory in Chicago was a far more notable success.

 

 

 

 

 

Chaney said: "Frankie just rang me with the news and it is unbelievable to think that this cheeky young guy who walked into our gym eight years ago is now the world champion.

 

 

 

 

 

"Frankie is now at the stage where he can do whatever he wants.

 

"He'll come back home to a massive welcome and he'll concentrate on going to the Olympics.

 

"He can do whatever he wants because he's the champion."

 

 

 

 

 

Gavin's success rounded off a remarkable World Championships for the English team.

 

Bradley Saunders and Joe Murray also secured bronze medals, doubling the previous total tally of English medal winners at the tournament.

 

 

 

 

 

The achievements of Saunders and Murray also guaranteed them places in Beijing, while Tony Jeffries became England's fourth qualifier when he reached the quarter-finals in the light-heavyweight division.