Gavin McDonnell to seize world super-bantamweight title chance against Rey Vargas
Wednesday 22 February 2017 16:12, UK
Gavin McDonnell plans to seize his chance of world title glory with both hands when he faces Rey Vargas at the Hull Ice Arena on Saturday night, live on Sky Sports.
McDonnell (16-0-2-KO4) tackles the Mexican for the vacant WBC world super-bantamweight title and is hoping to create British boxing history by joining twin brother Jamie as a world champion.
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"It is real now," said Doncaster fighter McDonnell, who has happy memories of the Hull Ice Arena after winning the British title at the venue three years ago.
"It seems to have taken forever to come but all of a sudden it is here. It is a nice feeling that after all the hard work we have put in, now is show time.
"I have put a lot of years hard work in, made a lot of sacrifices - and not just me, my family have all gone through it just for me. Everything has been put on hold for me to go out there and achieve my dream. We have trained so hard and it is here now, it is the dream and I plan on grabbing it with both hands and moving on and going from where I am to the very top."
Vargas, who boasts a record of 28 straight wins, with 22 inside the distance, has branded the decision to stage the fight in Britain as "cowardly" and claimed McDonnell's twin brother Jamie received hometown bias when he defeated Julio Ceja on points to win the IBF bantamweight title in Doncaster in 2013.
"The fight is here because Eddie and Matchroom have backed me for this fight," countered McDonnell.
"I do want to go abroad and fight but for my first world title, and such a tough fight, we wanted it here. My team has backed me more than his has backed him so they can say what they want - they can say it is cowardly or whatever they want.
"We know if we went over there we would have to knock them out so we want it in my favour over here and Eddie and Matchroom have given me the platform to go out there and achieve my dream. It isn't cowardly - my team have backed me, they have supported me and they have given me this opportunity to win this world title.
"It means everything, this is what we all want and when you are world champion you are on the scene then, the big fights will be there. You will be one of the World champions, a wanted man. It means everything; the bigger fights, the bigger pay, it is why we are in the business. I intend to do everything required to win and I have no doubt I will win."
Vargas' clash with McDonnell is part of a big night of action in Hull as hometown star Luke Campbell MBE defends his WBC silver lightweight title against Mexican Jairo Lopez.
Campbell's fellow Hull favourite and old foe Tommy Coyle returns to action following his epic British title encounter with Tyrone Nurse, taking on unbeaten Londoner Rakeem Noble.
Unbeaten Belfast talent Ryan Burnett tastes his first action of 2017, Doncaster Heavyweight Dave Allen kicks off 2017 having taken on Luis Ortiz in his last outing and Scunthorpe's unbeaten light heavyweight prospect Dec Spelman looks to add to his 10-0 record and local boys Carl Chadwick and Conor Seymour feature.
Watch Gavin McDonnell vs Rey Vargas from the Hull Ice Arena, live from 8pm, Saturday, on Sky Sports 2.
