CONFIRMED: Gavin McDonnell set for dream world title eliminator

Gavin McDonnell has been handed a dream world title eliminator later this month '“ plus the opportunity to win the WBC Silver title.
Gavin McDonnellGavin McDonnell
Gavin McDonnell

As reported by The Star earlier today, the unbeaten Dunscroft fighter will face Panama’s Jorge Sanchez in a WBC super bantamweight title eliminator on February 27 at Manchester Arena, on the undercard of the blockbuster clash between Scott Quigg and Carl Frampton.

It means the 29-year-old could be realistically be fighting for a world title in his 18th professional fight if he is victorious later this month.

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And he could be picking up his fifth professional title in his 17th with the vacant WBC Silver super bantamweight title up for grabs.

“I’m more than ready to prove that I can become a World champion,” McDonnell said.

“I know that Sanchez is going to be a tough fight and I will have to be at my best, but that’s what I am in the sport for – fighting the best and winning titles.

“I feel that I have come on leaps and bounds in the last year or so. I’ve gone under the radar a bit so landing this crucial fight on such a massive event like Frampton v Quigg is going to make people stand up and take notice of me, and I’m going to put in a performance that fans will remember.”

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McDonnell’s clash with Sanchez has been officially confirmed today as part of what will likely be the biggest night for British boxing in 2016 as Quigg and Frampton clash for the IBF and WBA super bantamweight titles.

Opponent Sanchez has won all 15 of his fights, stopping nine early, but has never fought outside his native Panama.

Should McDonnell beat the 25-year-old, he is likely to go straight to the front of the queue to face the WBC champion.

Amazingly, the current champion is Julio Ceja, the man who McDonnell’s twin brother Jamie beat to win his first title, the IBF bantamweight crown, in 2013.

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Jamie is set to fight on April 9 at London’s O2 Arena, ahead of a WBA bantamweight title unification fight with Juan Carlos Payano later this year.

McDonnell’s trainer Dave Coldwell is excited for the fight.

He said: “On the back of Gavin’s great performance last time out I’m really excited to be training Gavin for such a huge fight like this.

“He’s working so hard to improve himself in the gym every day and for him to win and take such a huge step towards fighting for the WBC World title would be a great reward for his dedication.”

“It’s amazing to see how far Gavin has come in the last two years.

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“From winning Area and English titles, the target was set at British honours.

Once that was achieved, a dream European opportunity was landed – he won the title in style against Yegerov.

“Now we have the World title in our sights, a huge fight for Gavin against the tough and undefeated Sanchez, to put himself in a position to challenge Julio Ceja.”