Gavin McDonnell is confident he can become European super-bantamweight champion

Gavin McDonnell will look to continue his meteoric rise to world level, as he takes on Alexander Egorov for the vacant European super-bantamweight title in Sheffield on Saturday.

The clash will be part of a star-studded night in the Steel City, with Kell Brook headlining the card and making the first defence of his IBF world welterweight belt that he won back in August.

McDonnell, unbeaten with 12 wins and two draws, will be in front of the Sky Sports cameras on a busy night, which also includes fights for Frankie Gavin, Kal Yafai, Charlie Edwards and local middleweight hope Adam Etches, who could propel himself up the world rankings with a win over Sergey Khomitsky.

The 28-year-old claims he is unfazed by the pressure that usually goes with a European title fight, as he enters the fight coming off a career best performance and win over Vusi Malinga in Hull last October.

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"It's a big fight for me; it's what we’re all in the business for, to win titles like the European," he said.

"It’s another big occasion to be involved in, in front of 11,000 at Sheffield Arena, so I’m just ready to get in there and win another belt.

"My trainer Dave Hulley does all the watching of my opponent, so it allows me to just get on and train as hard as I can. I've had a bit of a look at him and he’s got a similar record to me, although he's won a couple more as I've had a couple of draws, but I've fought a better level of opponent, so I’m hoping that that will go in my favour come fight night."

McDonnell, whose twin brother Jamie is the current WBA bantamweight champion, didn't have the amateur background that others at his level had and has done the majority of his learning in the ring.

It has not held him back though and he believes that his experience of going the 10 and 12 round distances since just his fifth fight will set him in good stead for the challenge the Ukrainian will bring in March to the Sheffield Arena.

I’ve fought a better level of opponent, so I’m hoping that that will go in my favour come fight night

McDonnell said: "I've learned my trade by fighting good kids, like my draw with Josh Wale last year. That turned into a very tough night’s work, so you can only learn from fights like that, and the wins over Vusi Malinga and Leigh Wood were great.

"I’ve got some decent names on my record, whereas I look down his and he hasn’t really got anyone on his, but he’s from Ukraine so you can guarantee that he is going to be tough.

"It doesn’t matter what your record is, if you’ve got it, then you’ll do well and he might turn up on the night and be capable of beating me."

Watch Gavin McDonnell v Alexander Egorov as part of the undercard of Kell Brook v Jo Jo Dan, live on Sky Sports 1 from 7.30pm on Saturday.