Gavin McDonnell: ‘I won’t let anyone down’

Gavin McDonnell

WITH the news that Hozumi Hasegawa had retired from boxing, his WBC super-bantamweight title became vacant and it was subsequently announced that the top two contenders โ€“ Rey Vargas and Gavin McDonnell โ€“ would box for the belt. McDonnell โ€“ twin brother of top bantamweight Jamie McDonnell โ€“ is excited at the prospect of his first attempt at world honours.

How long have you known about the title shot?

Weโ€™ve known a while, sort of since Hasegawa won the title. He said something like โ€˜win or lose, Iโ€™ll retireโ€™ before the fight. So we heard that he was going to retire and if he does weโ€™ll be ready. Itโ€™s been a few weeks weโ€™ve known but itโ€™s hard to get too excited. You hear somebodyโ€™s retiring or something and you think, โ€˜oh thatโ€™s me next in line,โ€™ but you donโ€™t want to be too excited because if they donโ€™t retire youโ€™re going to be devastated, arenโ€™t you? Not many people retire after they win a title so credit to him, retiring on top, but most people donโ€™t do it. Iโ€™m always in the gym usually but this time I made sure I kept my weight down just in case.

In these big close fights home advantage gives you a boost. Iโ€™ve been away with Jamie and thereโ€™s only a handful of people supporting you so itโ€™s all in my favour. [In this country] it would mean everyoneโ€™s given me the best possible chance to win it and then itโ€™s up to me โ€“ and I wonโ€™t let anyone down.

Have you seen much of Vargas?

Iโ€™ve watched a bit of him, my managerโ€™s watched him, my trainerโ€™s watched him and everybodyโ€™s whoโ€™s watched him is full of confidence, โ€˜Gav youโ€™ve got a real good chance.โ€™ Heโ€™s no superman, heโ€™s very beatable. We know heโ€™s a good kid but the champions are proven and tested and this is probably a better fight for me, heโ€™s not quite on the world scene yet, neither am I. Itโ€™s a big chance. Iโ€™m more than confident. That green belt, it raises not just me but him as well and thatโ€™s what will make it a good fight. Iโ€™ve noticed in the gym, you just want it a bit more. You want to impress. Itโ€™s nice to get people writing me off, people saying Iโ€™m up against it โ€“ you want that. Iโ€™m looking forward to proving everyone wrong. Iโ€™ve had it all my life. Iโ€™ll be more than ready by the time it comes round.

I know Jamie was a big part of the reason behind you committing to boxing, how much inspiration have you taken from what heโ€™s achieved on the world scene?

In 2010 I watched him win his European title and I thought, โ€˜if he can do it, I can do it.โ€™ Over the years, even now, I think โ€˜wowโ€™ when I look at what Iโ€™ve done, Iโ€™ve won a few titles and exceeded where I first thought. Now, I want to be a unified champion, I want to move up in weight to win world titles and I really believe I can do it, whether people think I can or not. At the end of the day itโ€™s only me that has to believe it because itโ€™s me that goes out there and does it. Iโ€™m full of confidence.

This feature was originally published in Boxing News magazine

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