Saturday 25 February 2017 22:20, UK
Tony Bellew believes gym-mate Gavin McDonnell is Britain's most improved fighter and is backing him to be crowned WBC super-bantamweight champion on Saturday night...
This is going to be a tough fight for Gavin McDonnell, but I will say now, I think he will do it.
Rey Vargas is a serious puncher, a top fighter and has pedigree but he hasn't really beaten a top fighter yet and Gavin is a top-level fighter.
And he is, in my opinion, the most improved fighter in Britain. He really is. He's been absolutely fantastic since teaming up with the coach and I've seen him improve ten-fold.
I am not just saying that because he's in the same gym as me and maybe because I have seen more of him than most, I say that as just a matter of fact.
Gav has gone from a kid at area level and having tough fights, through to the European and WBC silver titles and has dominated all the way.
He's beaten some good, rated kids, really strong ones and he has done it with ease. He has dominated them. He's dropping them with bodyshots, which is something we had never seen before.
Listen, he is going to have a really strong gameplan against Vargas and he will have to stick to it - and I mean stick to it.
The other McDonnell, Jamie, is a fantastic fighter as well and he was fortunate last time out against Solis but at the end of the day he got the decision and that's all that matters.
Vargas can bang, but I just think Gavin needs to get through the first six rounds, but he needs to pick some of them up as well. If it is 3-3 after six rounds or close at least, I can see him going on to win it, I really can.
He didn't stick to the gameplan on that night and it shows what can happen. Sometimes fighters are so evenly matched that it comes right down to who gets it right on the night.
I don't think this fight will just go down to who is better because I don't see anything between them. I simply think it will go down to who sticks to their gameplan.
As I say, we do know Vargas can bang, but I just think Gavin needs to get through the first six rounds, but he needs to pick some of them up as well. If it is 3-3 after six rounds or close at least, I can see him going on to win it, I really can.
This is all about the styles of these two and how Gav dictates the pace, how he uses his brain, his footwork and his judgement of distance. They will all play a big part.
Vargas looks a tall, rangy fighter who can bang as well, but it up to Gavin McDonnell to really make a statement and you know what? He can and he will. I am predicting Gavin McDonnell on points.
Watch Gavin McDonnell vs Rey Vargas from Hull, live from 8pm, Saturday, live on Sky Sports 2.
