GAVIN Gwynne has warned title rival Sean McComb he is in for a "rude awakening" at the University of Bolton Stadium tonight.

The vacant Commonwealth lightweight crown will be on the line when Gwynne and unbeaten McComb headline MTK Global's eight-fight show in Lancashire.

And Newport-based Gwynne, trained by St Joseph's coach Tony Borg, is predicting a win inside the distance against Belfast's McComb (11-0).

"He hasn't been in with anyone, he hasn't stepped up a level," said Gwynne (12-2) of his opponent. "He's going to have a rude awakening.

"He's a rangy southpaw with a very amateur style. He doesn't like to plant his feet and it doesn't look like he hits very hard.

"He doesn't like to have a tear-up, which I think is going to be his downfall. I think I'm going to stop him within eight or nine rounds.

"He's an unbeaten fighter, he's a good fighter, but I can go on from this and win European and, hopefully, world honours."

HANDOUT PICTURE COMPLIMENTS OF MATCHROOM BOXING.James Tennyson v Gavin Gwynne, Vacant British Lightweight Title, Matchroom Fight Camp..1st August 2020..Picture By Mark Robinson.

HANDOUT PICTURE COMPLIMENTS OF MATCHROOM BOXING.James Tennyson v Gavin Gwynne, Vacant British Lightweight Title, Matchroom Fight Camp..1st August 2020..Picture By Mark Robinson.

He added: "I haven't lost to bums. I've lost to people (Joe Cordina and James Tennyson) who are going to be fighting for world titles.

"If I'd lost against a journeyman then I'd have given up, but I've lost to two guys who are elite level."

Tonight's contest will be a second for Gwynne during the coronavirus pandemic following his loss to Tennyson last August.

And while he was understandably disappointed to miss out on the Lonsdale Belt, the 30-year-old from Trelewis took plenty of plusses from the sixth-round stoppage.

"I don't like fighting without the crowd because it gives you a boost, but the last fight has given me a bit of experience for this one" said Gwynne.

"I took loads of positives from the last fight.

"I thought I was up on the scorecards and outboxing him, but he is a massive puncher.

"He caught me with a good shot in the first round and I remember thinking it was like he had bricks in his gloves – the power was unbelievable.

"I spar with big boys all the time and they have nowhere near the power he possesses.

"He caught me cleanly in the sixth and I went down. I got back up but couldn't recover and was stopped on my feet.

"A couple of weeks after that he went and knocked out the number eight in the world inside the first minute of a world title eliminator, so that goes to show how good an effort I put in.

"He's going to be fighting for a world title this year, and when I win this Commonwealth title I can push on and win European and, hopefully, world honours."

Coach Borg has overseen Gwynne's career since the Trelewis man turned pro in 2016.

"It's not about the money with Gavin, he wants that title and to be the champion," he said.

"If Gavin can get in close to him and get to work then he should have too much for McComb.

"Gavin can't afford to go out there all gung-ho and chase him because he'll play into McComb's hands."

Tonight's show will be broadcast live worldwide on iFL TV and in the US on ESPN+ in association with Top Rank.

l Carl Frampton's title fight against super-featherweight champion Jamel Herring has been postponed due to a hand injury.

The Northern Irishman was due to attempt to become a three-weight world champion in London on February 27.