Confident Gavin McDonnell unfazed by '˜tall' world title foe Vargas

Gavin McDonnell saw something yesterday that he has not experienced in his career so far '“ an opponent standing taller than him.
Gavin McDonnell during his open workout in Hull this week. Picture: MatchroomGavin McDonnell during his open workout in Hull this week. Picture: Matchroom
Gavin McDonnell during his open workout in Hull this week. Picture: Matchroom

McDonnell went nose-to-nose with his rival for the vacant WBC super bantamweight title this weekend, Rey Vargas, with the unbeaten Mexican shading the height stats by an inch or two.

The Hatfield fighter is typically tall for the weight so has yet to face anyone bigger in the past.

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But he was not fazed by the face off in Hull yesterday and remains confident of becoming world champion on Saturday night.

“I think it’ll suit me because we work a lot to the body,” he told The Star.

“Them little guys, you can’t really hit them to the body.

“I’m not the biggest of punchers so the head shots aren’t really going to wear them down but the body shots do.

“This kid is going to be there to hit so hopefully we can slow him up downstairs.

“If he’s bigger, he’ll be easier to hit.”

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McDonnell said he saw some nerves in Vargas when the two went head to head, and had his excitement for Saturday night piqued.

“I could see a little bit of fear in there,” he said.

“That’s understandable because he’s come from the other end of the earth.

“He’s confident though, you can see that, and when you’re looking down on someone it can give you a bit more confidence. He had that on me.

“But he’s got to bring it to fight night to beat me.

“This has given me that bit of spark in my belly. I wanted the excitement flowing and it’s done that.

“You can’t read too much into the head-to-head because some fighters look nervous and then go and spark the other kid out.

“But it was nice to get up close and get that bit of fire in the belly.”