Mutley: "Gavin's getting knocked out"

West Brom puncher Young Mutley has turned up the heat ahead of his Birmingham v Black Country clash with Frankie Gavin.

The all-West Midlands 12-rounder forms part of a stellar undercard to Nathan Cleverley's attempt to win the WBO world light-heavyweight title from German knockout artist Juergen Braehmer at the o2 Arena, London, on May 21.

Undefeated super-middleweights James DeGale and George Groves also square off for the British 12st belt on the Frank Warren-promoted card, but it's iron-fisted Mutley (pictured with the British title) who wants to steal the show.

In order to do so he'll have to snap the nine-fight (eight via stoppage) unbeaten run of Birmingham's smooth-boxing, fleet-footed and fast-fisted Gavin, who holds the distinction of being Britain's only-ever World Amateur gold medalist.

And sharp Second City southpaw Gavin, 25 and a die-hard follower of Birmingham City, has yet to put a foot wrong as a professional, halting former Prizefighter welterweight champion Michael Lomax in seven rounds in his last bout, and challenges for the WBO Intercontinental welterweight belt that was stripped from Kell Brook earlier this month.

Although a former British champion at 10st 7lbs, Mutley - a capable, flat-footed, heavy-handed operator who can box and who has also challenged for the European light-welterweight title in an exciting career - starts as the underdog and has been out of the ring for 13 months, when he edged past African Patrick Bogere.

A loss (or at least a one-sided one) for Mutley, 29-5 (14), will probably spell the end of his 12-year paid career. However, at a press conference in West Bromwich yesterday (May 11), the 34-year-old Black Country puncher claims that it will be Gavin, trained by ex-pro Anthony Farnell, whose career will grind to a halt in London.

"Gavin won't know what's hit him," boasted a bull-strong scrapper whose pressure and left hook snapped the 28-fight unbeaten run of future world title challenger Michael Jennings to annex the British title in 2006.

"He's a good, talented young fighter who can go places but i know too much for him at this stage. It's come to soon for him and that will be there for everyone to see when we fight next week.

"He's getting knocked out," the Errol Johnson-handled West Bromwich Albion supporter coldly added.