Gavin McDonnell-Rey Vargas WBC SuperBantam title/Campbell/Coyle - Sat/SKY/8pm

[Fenster]

McDonnell (16-0-2/4 KO's) fights like his "world" champion twin brother Jamie, except he's not as good, he doesn't look as sharp or natural. Being a beanpole superbantam obviously has its advantages if you can use them - height, reach and distance, which he's proved to do well at British/Euro level. He has a good engine and takes a decent clump but can't crack an egg. So if he wins, he wins on PTS.

Vargas (28-0/22 KO’s) was flagged up at the start of the year as one to watch in Boxing Monthly, so is obviously not a road sweeper. And to bolster the young (26) Mexican's credentials he's trained by Nacho Beristain (who, back in the day, shrewdly saved the great Juan Manuel Marquez from getting spectacularly knocked unconcious by Naz. Whoomp there it is!). Vargas record suggests he's heavy handed, obviously, but most interesting is his height/size, he makes McDonnell look like Warwick Davis. The reports about his size are way out (Boxrec has him at 5'7).

Vargas fights in quick bursts, chucking vicious combo's to body and head, especially to the body. McDonnell doesn't have much going for him physically, he needs his volume and pace to nick rounds as well as the paranoid Mexican - he's been moaning and groaning about getting shafted - folding due to the weather/travel/crowd/gaff/tea.

Vargas KO - 6/5

Also on the card - Luke Campbell has a gimme, Tommy Coyle-Rakeem Noble (8/1 pts Noble) could be interesting, and top prospect Ryan Burnett gets a leg stretcher.