Gwynne: I've got the boxing brain to beat Tennyson for title

The 30-year-old from Nelson will take on Belfast's James Tennyson on Saturday, August 1 on a bill in the Matchroom Boxing mansion in Essex.

He was meant to be on the undercard of fellow Newport-based fighter Lee Selby's clash with George Kambosos Jnr in Cardiff's Motorpoint Arena.

Instead Gwynne and Tennyson will battle behind closed doors but the Welshman has promised a cracker for those tuning in on television.

"He's probably the biggest puncher in the lightweight division in the world," he said on the Gibbons Talks Boxing YouTube channel.

"Styles makes fights and I think we are made for each other. I just think that I have got the beating of him, I am so confident that it's unbelievable."

Gwynne is having a shot at the British title for the second time after losing on points to compatriot Joe Cordina on points last August.

"He hasn't got anywhere near the boxing ability of Joe, who I fought last time," said Gwynne, who responded to that setback with a first-round knockout of Abdon Cesar to improve his record to 12-1

"His boxing ability is not the best, but he's always got that punch. He carries that power all the way through the 12 rounds, so I will have to be on my guard."

Gwynne has picked the brains of Blackwood's Craig Evans, who lost to Tennyson in November, and was sparring with St Joseph's middleweights before lockdown.

Now he is preparing for Tennyson by nipping over the border with trainer Tony Borg, who will be in his corner in August along with cutman Bill Reynolds and manager Chris Sanigar.

"I was thinking that I can't train in my garage for one of the hardest fights I've ever had, it's not a British level fight, it's more of a European level title fight," he said.

"We knew that gyms would be opening back up in England so I said I'd have the fight. We can't do sparring, it's padwork with Tony and he has to wear masks.

"I'm lucky that I've got a great sponsor - Gwent Motor Company - and that's a massive help because all I've got to do is put fuel in the car and off I go."

Gwynne stayed sharp during lockdown and is now counting down to a strange fight week.

The fighters and their teams will be tested, go into isolation and then fight outside without fans.

"I always get a big following so it does give me a buzz and an extra boost, you think you can't go losing with all these people here who have paid good money to watch you," said Gwynne.

"When you've got to dig deep and they are all chanting and going nuts - because my crowd are crazy! - it does give you a boost. But we will both be in the same boat and just have to deal with it."