Gavin Gwynne and Luke Willisface off ahead of MTK Fight Night

Gavin Gwynne and Luke Willis each made their intentions perfectly clear as they met prior to their British and Commonwealth lightweight title fight on Friday’s #MTKFightNight.
This week’s stacked show is broadcast live on IFL TV and takes place at York Hall in London, and also features an English super-welterweight title fight between Sam Gilley and Drew Brown.

Elsewhere on Friday’s card, Nina Hughes takes on Bec Connolly, plus Sultan Zaurbek, Carl Fail, Elliot Whale, Dean Richardson, Paul Ryan and Jimmy Croxson are all in action.

The fighters went head to head on Wednesday before Friday’s all-important fight night, and here’s what everybody had to say.

Gwynne said: “I’ve put everything into this camp, and I’m leaving on Friday with two belts wrapped around my waist. I can’t wait and I wish it was tomorrow. I just want to get in there and fight.

“I think it will be a fight of two halves. One of my strongpoints is my stamina and I could probably do 24 rounds if I needed to. I’ve always believed in myself, and that’s what’s got me this third crack at the British title.

“This is my time, and I know what I have to do to win. If it comes by stoppage so be it, or if it’s on points that’s fine, all I know is I’ll be leaving the ring on Friday as the British and Commonwealth champion.”

Willis said: “Talk is cheap, it will be me leaving with the belts. I respect Gavin and what he’s done, but the best version of me beats the best version of him, and on Friday night you’ll see.

“There is so much talent in Liverpool, and I want to thank Tony Bellew and MTK Global for getting me this shot at the British and Commonwealth titles, I’m going to grab it with both hands.

“This might be my first 12 rounder, but I’ve prepared for this not only the last 10 weeks, but my whole life. I have never stopped believing in me, and I always felt I would be a champion. On Friday night it happens.”

Hughes said: “I feel like I’ve been training for four months for this fight. I need to get this out the way first so I’m not looking past it, but after this fight, world titles are what I want.

“I’m just really excited to be stepping back in the ring again, so I can’t wait for Friday night. I know that I’ll be coming out with the win.”

Connolly said: “I always want to test myself against the best in the world and when I retire I can say that I’ve fought the best. I have every confidence in myself and I’m going to put on a cracking performance and go for the win.

“Anything can happen in boxing, one punch changes everything and it comes down to small margins, so I’m excited to go in there and show what I can do.”

O’Leary said: “The last time I was fighting was October, and I wanted to spend Christmas with my family. I’ve been back training really hard since January, and I have a great team around me.

“People haven’t seen half of what I can do, and I’m excited that you’ll see the best of me soon. It’s only a matter of time.”

Fail said: “I’m in the gym all year round and I just want to stay busy and stay active. We’ll get this opponent out of the way on Friday and then I want to move forward.

“I want to push for titles. I know that I can’t run before I can walk, but I believe that I’m ready and I will truly fight anybody.”

Richardson said: “It’s been two years since my last fight and a frustrating time, but I believe I’ve made a lot of improvements in the gym while I’ve been out, and on Friday night I will show it.

“York Hall is a great venue and it’s the home of British boxing. I’ve got another night fighting there and it’s going to be another win. We’ll get the momentum going again, and then I’m looking for the English title next.”

Croxson said: “I can’t wait. I have got this opportunity and now it’s down to me to perform, and I’m sure I will. I’ve been in the gym working hard and I’m going to 100% get the win on Friday.”

MTK Global Promoter Lee Eaton said: “It’s a great card. The top of the bill speaks for itself. British and Commonwealth titles is what fighters are involved in the sport for, so it’s going to be a special night at York Hall. Gavin is already the Commonwealth champion, and now he gets his chance to fight for the British title.

“Elsewhere on the card we have Sam Gilley in a great fight against Drew Brown, and also Nina Hughes and Bec Connolly finally getting it on. The winner of that should move on and hopefully go straight into a Commonwealth title fight.

“Pierce O’Leary is back and he is one of the most exciting prospects we have on the roster, and he’s one of the nicest kids you’ll meet too. After this it will be titles next, and he’s going all the way.

“Jimmy Croxson is making his debut, and I’ve known him since he was a kid, he’s grown into a man now, and I’m excited to see him make his professional debut. He’ll admit himself he wasn’t very good when he started, but he’s trained hard and put his whole life into boxing.

“Carl Fail is one of the best young prospects in British boxing. He was on Team GB and is now 5-0 already having taken on some tough tests. He’s got another difficult opponent this week, and then we’ll maybe look at a Southern Area title eliminator next.

“Dean Richardson has had two years out, but now he’s signed with MTK Global and we’re looking forward to getting him straight out and then into championship fights in the summer.”

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Gavin Gwynne: This would make history for Wales

Gavin Gwynne plans on making history for Merthyr and Wales when he faces Luke Willis for the British and Commonwealth lightweight titles on Friday’s huge #MTKFightNight.
This week’s stacked show takes place at York Hall in London and will be broadcast live in the US on ESPN+ in association with Top Rank.

Gwynne (14-2, 3 KOs) is the reigning Commonwealth champion, while the vacant British title will also be up for grabs in the showdown against undefeated Willis (11-0, 1 KO).

Victory for Gwynne would see him become the first British champion from Merthyr in over 40 years, following on from the legendary Johnny Owen, and the 31-year-old plans on doing Wales proud.

Gwynne said: “I want to go down in history and make a legacy for myself. A lot of people say they’re fighting for their families and everything else, but when I step into the ring I’m fighting for myself.

“My boxing journey so far has had a lot of ups and downs and it’s been a rollercoaster. I’m getting back up there now and we’re only a few fights from a mega fight. This is my third attempt at the British title and it will mean the absolute world to me to me to win it.

“Bringing the British title back to Wales would mean everything. I’d be the first person to bring the British title back to Mertyr since Johnny Owen, so that’s history in itself.

“Wales has got a long history of world champions, with the likes of Lee Selby, Gavin Rees, Nathan Cleverly and Joe Calzaghe, so it would be amazing to put my name alongside those.

“I’ve been putting everything into this. My body has been through torture in this camp to make sure I’m 100% right on April 15th. This is a must win because I’m getting on in the years now. I’m 32 so I don’t want to fall back down the rankings and have to start to build again.

“My prediction for fight night is just a Gavin Gwynne victory. It doesn’t matter whether it comes on points, or by stoppage, I just want to win.”

Elsewhere on Friday’s card, Sam Gilley defends his English super-welterweight title against Drew Brown, Nina Hughes takes on Bec Connolly, plus Sultan Zaurbek, Pierce O’Leary, Carl Fail, Elliot Whale, Dean Richardson, Paul Ryan and Jimmy Croxson are all in action.

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Gavin Gwynne vs. Luke Willis headlines MTK Fight Night in April

Gavin Gwynne and Luke Willis will collide for the British and Commonwealth lightweight titles as part of a stacked #MTKFightNight at York Hall in London on April 15.
The event will be broadcast live in the US on ESPN+ in association with Top Rank, and worldwide on IFL TV, as Commonwealth champion Gwynne (14-2, 3 KOs) takes on undefeated Willis (11-0, 1 KO), with the vacant British title also up for grabs.

Welsh fighter Gwynne has had a successful 12 months, defeating Sean McComb by seventh round stoppage on an MTK Fight Night back in February 2021, before a successful first defence against Jack O’Keeffe in November.

He now turns his attention to Liverpool’s Willis, who in his last outing earned a majority decision win over Ryan Charlton in a tremendous fight at the M&S Bank Arena in October.

Gwynne said: “I’m so excited for this. I was in training all over Christmas staying fit and getting rounds in sparring as well, so I can’t wait. I don’t really know a lot about Luke Willis, just that’s he’s a southpaw and unbeaten. I really like boxing southpaws so this is great for me.

“I’ve boxed a lot better boys and fought at a much higher level than Willis, but he’s unbeaten and I’ve been in his shoes before. I know it’s going to bring the best out in him so I’ve prepared for the best version of him.

“The British title is a title that I’ve wanted since turning over, and it would be a dream to win it and especially to win it in fashion as well.”

Willis said: “I’m really looking forward to this one. It’s been a long time coming, and I’m right up for it. I’ve seen Gwynne a few times and he’s tall, tough and game, but he’s beatable, so it’s nothing that worries me.

“He’s built a bit of momentum and has a lot of confidence after his past couple of fights, so it’s my job to take that confidence away, which I will.

“It would mean everything to me to win these titles. All I’ve ever dreamed about is that Lonsdale belt. I’ve got my opportunity to get it now and I don’t plan on letting it slip.”

MTK Global Promoter Lee Eaton added: “We’re thrilled to be returning to York Hall with another action-packed MTK Fight Night, headlined by this tremendous battle between Gavin Gwynne and Luke Willis.

“Gavin has been in fantastic form over the past year, earning big wins over Sean McComb and Jack O’Keeffe. He faces another tough test against a dangerous unbeaten fighter in Luke Willis, and it’s great to be working with his manager Tony Bellew to make this bout happen.

“It’s going to be yet another superb MTK Fight Night card full of intriguing 50-50 fights, so we can’t wait to head back to London on April 15.”

Further news on the event, including additions to the card, will be announced over the coming days and weeks.

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LIVE BOXING: Before The Bell: Smith vs Fowler undercard (Willis-Charlton, Dacres-Sokolowski, Hyland, Davies Jr)



CHARLTON: I’M GOING TO TAKE OVER THIS LIGHTWEIGHT DIVISION

Rylan Charlton is relishing his drop down in weight to 135lbs and says fans can expect to see the best version of him at his “own weight” when he meets undefeated Tony Bellew-managed southpaw Luke Willis on the huge Smith vs. Fowler card at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool on Saturday October 9. 

Norwich’s Charlton (6-1-1, 3 KOs) demonstrated his ‘Pint Size’ power when he made easy work of Joe Laws in October 2020, sending the Benwell Welterweight prospect crashing to the canvas three times on route to a brutal third round KO in Peterborough. 

Charlton displayed his power once again when he dropped Florian Marku to the canvas in round six of his eighth round TKO loss to ‘The Albanian King’ earlier this year at The SSE Arena, Wembley – a loss that prompted the 29-year-old Norfolk puncher to drop down two weight divisions. 

“I gave it a go at Welterweight and they’re far too big for me,” said Charlton. “Marku proved that. He was a strong Welterweight. My power is one of my strongest assets, so if you take that away from me against some of the bigger boys then it’s not great for me. We’ll really see how effective I am now I’m dropping down to Lightweight.

“I can’t wait for it; it’s going to be a good fight. Finally dropping down to Lightweight is what I needed to do, I tested it at Welterweight – far too big – but you’ve seen what I did at that weight. I’m going to take over this Lightweight division. My power is going to be a big advantage in the Lightweight division and you’ll see me really come into my own. 

“I don’t know a lot about Willis. I’ve had a little look at him. He’s a tidy boxer, he’s speedy, he’s in and out, but this is going to be a different Rylan Charlton. I’ve changed up my trainers. I’m not going to be the same fighter you saw against Florian Marku. I’m still going to be carrying the punch power. Obviously we know that we can’t always rely on your power. A lot of my boxing skills are going to come out at 135lbs. 

“The Marku loss was a fight that I needed to have. It got my name out there a bit more. It was well out of my weight class. Everything happens for a reason. If I’d have beaten Marku then I’d have continued fighting at 147lbs. That was never my natural weight. I’ve learnt some stuff from that fight. I’ve learnt that I’ve got one hell of a chin on me and I can still carry my power up some divisions. It’s going to be exciting to box at my own weight.”

Willis vs. Charlton is part of a stacked night of action in Liverpool, former WBO Super-Welterweight Word Champion Liam Smith (29-3-1, 16 KOs) meets 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medallist and Rio 2016 Olympian Anthony Fowler (15-1, 12 KOs) in a massive all-Liverpool clash for local bragging rights, Ted Cheeseman (17-2-1, 10 KOs) puts his British Super-Welterweight Title on the line against Troy Williamson (16-0-1, 12 KOs) following his brilliant stoppage win over James Metcalf in Gibraltar, WBA Bantamweight World Champion Shannon Courtenay (7-1, 3 KOs) defends her crown for the first time against the USA’s Jamie Mitchell (6-0-2, 4 KOs), Northampton’s Kieron Conway (16-2-1, 3 KOs) looks to bounce back from his loss to Souleymane Cissokho on the Canelo vs. Saunders undercard when he meets James Metcalf (21-1, 13 KOs), decorated amateur star Peter McGrail makes his highly anticipated professional debut, two-time World Title challenger Natasha Jonas (9-2-1, 7 KOs) returns after her thrilling fight with Katie Taylor in May, Birmingham Heavyweight hope Solomon Dacres (2-0, 1 KO) steps up against the experienced Kamil Sokolowski (10-22-2, 4 KOs) in just his third fight, Wigan Lightweight Rhiannon Dixon (3-0) takes on Anaelle Angerville (1-1-1) over four rounds and Blane Hyland (4-1) meets Santiago San Eusebio (3-1-2, 2 KOs) in a four round Super-Flyweight contest.