Workaholic with a tattooed throat – meet The Merthyr Mexican
"He asked me where I was from and I told him 'Merthyr' as if he was going to know where that was, and he said: "Oh, the Merthyr Mexican!" "It suits as I'm non-stop and I just love fighting.
Key points
- Most fights tend to be – for better or worse – a war with Gwynne, noted when he stepped into a Mexican gym in Los Angeles.
- Or it will be the roaring lion prominently inked on his throat that invites the second glances and stares.
- Having already won British, Commonwealth and European titles, his upset of previously 16-fight unbeaten Khaleel Majid in May won him the WBA international belt at the weight above - and shot the 36-year-old up the rankings.
It might be the giant sombrero that the rugged lightweight wears to the ring, in keeping with his moniker of 'The Merthyr Mexican'.
"That lion is inside me, always trying to get out, so that's what's behind it," Gwynne explained of the arresting ink work over his throat that took four hours to complete.
Additional details
- Now, as he prepares to face Manchester's Zelfa Barrett for the WBA intercontinental lightweight title at Wembley Arena on Saturday, 14 November, Gwynne knows he has a chance to be known for more than a nickname and a neck tattoo.
- Sharing a gym with one former world champion, Joe Cordina, and preparing for Barrett with tough sparring sessions up against another in Lee Selby, Gwynne suggests he has even been overlooked in his homeland.
- "It's a massive step - and, as I say, it's must win because I haven't got time to build myself back up now," he added, casting a glance at some of the young Welsh hopefuls in Lockett's gym.
- He is a fighter more of sweat and slog than show-off, even putting his recent rise down to Lockett holding him back from training so much and instructing him to take more time to rest.
- Gavin Gwynne has held Welsh, British, Commonwealth and European lightweight titles as well as the WBA International Super Lightweight belt [Getty Images] You can't miss Gavin Gwynne.
How this summary was made: extractive summary — built from the sources' own reporting. It is drawn only from the reporting of the sources listed below — read the originals for full detail. How we summarize →
Advertisement
Every article behind this summary — 1 article from 1 outlet
Get stories like this in your inbox.
Subscribe — it's freeOne free email at 6am — your topics, deduplicated, five minutes. No account, no paywall.