Frankie Gavin's trainer has described the former amateur star as having "the best boxing brain I've ever seen" as he prepares for his fifth professional fight next month.

Former world amateur lightweight champion Gavin, 24, takes on a yet to be named opponent on the undercard of Amir Khan's first WBA light-welterweight title defence against Dmitriy Salita in Newcastle on December 5.

Birmingham light-welterweight Gavin has won all four of his previous paid bouts by stoppage since turning professional in February and aims to close out 2009 in style at the Metro Radio Arena.

And highly-respected Oldham-based trainer Anthony Farnell has been delighted with the way his young charge has adapted to the change.

"He has made massive progress since the first day he came into the gym," he said.

"Having watched him for years I knew he was a great talent, but I didn't how just how good he was.

"He has the best boxing brain I have ever seen, and I have been following boxing since I was about 13 years old. If he can keep his feet on the ground and do what his management team and training team says, he'll go all the way.

"He has improved with every fight. Even though he was an amateur world champion, pro boxing is almost like a different sport. Everyone thought he wasn't a big puncher and he is not a massive puncher, but now he can settle down with his shots and put more power into them. With every training camp before a fight he is looking better and better.

"Usually people need fights where they can get in the groove, settling-down fights that people know they are going to win. But with Frankie you can afford to take that risk because of the talent he is."

Gavin - who admits he would love to fight friend and bill-topper Khan in the future - was full of praise for his former amateur team-mate, who returned from defeat by Breidis Prescott last year to win the world title from Andreas Kotelnik in the summer.

"He has a great year," said Gavin. "He bounced back from his defeat and turned from a boy into a man. And if he can do it then why can't I?

"We have got a similar pedigree and we are doing well. He'll be fine (against Salita).

"He is training hard, he's disciplined and he's moved away (to Los Angeles). He is making his sacrifices and I think it will be no problem for him."