When the members of Saudi Arabia’s Normal Leisure Authority set their minds on making the nation the brand new residence of boxing, the only goal appeared to be to tempt the world’s finest fighters into taking the largest fights obtainable.
The plan’s attain has expanded quickly, as unheralded fighters similar to Gavin Gwynne and Mark Chamberlain at the moment are being invited out to the Center East and handed the chance to vary their lives.
Gwynne spent years battling his approach to the British and Commonwealth light-weight titles, ready for a serious promoter to throw its weight behind him. Chamberlain has patiently reeled off knockout after knockout, and has nearly taken up residency at London’s historic York Corridor.
The 2 have fought their approach to the highest of the British light-weight division and have grown more and more used to listening to one another’s names over the previous few months. However they by no means would have imagined that their paths would ultimately converge in Saudi Arabia.
Gwynne and Chamberlain can have the boxing world’s consideration once they meet within the ring Friday in Riyadh, on the undercard of the heavyweight combat between Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou – although neither see it as their remaining vacation spot. Fairly, it’s a crossroads.
The winner will possible transfer on to a giant home showdown with unbeaten and thrilling British champion Sam Noakes. The loser might want to retreat again away from the highlight and rebuild.
“We haven’t taken Gavin flippantly,” mentioned the heavy-handed Chamberlain (14-0, 10 KOs) at Monday’s glitzy purple carpet arrival occasion. “I don’t take any opponent flippantly, however Gavin Gwynne is a giant step up for me at this level in my profession. I’ve had 14 fights now, and I feel it’s the proper combat on the proper time for me to push on.”
If Chamberlain is stepping up, Gwynne (17-2-1, 5 KOs) has been campaigning at domestic-title degree for a while. It has been nearly 5 years since he misplaced to Joe Cordina in his first crack on the British title, and he ultimately gained it on the third time of asking. Gwynne is used to boxing younger, unbeaten fighters, however – till not too long ago – he has completed it with out a lot fanfare. The truth is, he nearly turned his again on the game at one level.
“Simply after I beat Sean McComb in lockdown, I couldn’t get any fights,” Gwynne mentioned. “I had a phrase with my spouse and mentioned that I wasn’t incomes sufficient cash and must return to work. I obtained a name for a combat, after which it’s modified my life. Look the place I’m now.
“It’s all about grit and dedication. Not being spoon-fed opponents and at all times going into the yard of those opponents is paying off. I’m glad I caught with it.”
Each fighters are tall for the load, however that’s the place the similarities finish. Chamberlain carries fight-ending energy in his left hand, is harmful to go and physique, and appears to drop each opponent he faces. Gwynne is the battle-hardened workhorse. He units a excessive tempo and challenges opponents to maintain up with him.
Solely the gifted Cordina and big-punching James Tennyson have been capable of cease Gwynne’s ahead march to this point, though Italian veteran Emiliano Marsili gave it a great go final December. The beforehand unbeaten 47-year-old outboxed Gwynne for six rounds of their European title combat, however he couldn’t preserve his good begin and ultimately retired on his stool. Chamberlain noticed that combat and took loads of encouragement from it.
“I gained’t go off of that efficiency, but when he’d been in there with me that evening and that had occurred, I’d have been throughout him,” Chamberlain mentioned of Gwynne. “Up till the stoppage, Gavin was getting punched throughout the ring. I’ll say it how it’s: He was getting beat. He might need had an off evening, however he gained’t have the ability to try this on Friday with me.”
Gwynne might not have been within the ring with a fighter who has Chamberlain’s precise talent set, however there may be little or no he hasn’t seen. The 33-year-old Welshman gained’t change something, and can commit himself to his typical aggressive recreation plan to check whether or not Chamberlain has the health and coronary heart to maintain him off.
“I’ve boxed plenty of southpaws, however he’s a come-forward southpaw who punches a bit, so I haven’t boxed anybody like him,” Gwynne mentioned. “However I’ve sparred 1000’s of rounds with fighters like him. It’s nothing.
“I’m in all probability the underdog going into this combat, however each time I’m the underdog, I at all times win.
“It’s a warfare, isn’t it? Everybody needs to see a warfare, and blood and guts. I’m up for it.”
The declaration was music to Chamberlain’s ears. The 25-year-old from Portsmouth has the fashion and energy to make an attention grabbing impression this week, and he’s decided to not let the second move him by.
“I’ll combat whoever they put in entrance of me,” Chamberlain mentioned. “I gained’t shrink back from something, therefore why we’re right here preventing Gavin. I’m all for it. I don’t anticipate it to be simple, however I do anticipate to return out with a victory.”
