Monday 30 January 2017 15:45, UK
Rey Vargas says Gavin McDonnell has benefitted from a "cowardly" decision to stage their WBC super-bantamweight fight in Britain.
The Mexican has voiced his anger after being made to travel for his fight against McDonnell with the vacant WBC belt on the line at Hull Ice Arena on Saturday February 28, live on Sky Sports.
Vargas believes McDonnell's team were worried about fighting abroad and has incited the 30-year-old by claiming his twin brother Jamie received hometown bias when he defeated Julio Ceja on points to win the IBF bantamweight title in Doncaster in 2013.
"It is a risk going to England, but I'm not scared," said Vargas, who will fight outside Mexico for the first time in his career.
"I know that I'll get booed when I go into the ring but I know when I win and step out of the ring they will applaud me. I am going to win this fight, even being in his backyard. He has that home advantage but I will win.
"I know the judges could be an issue. In fact, a gym mate of mine, Julio Ceja, fought his brother and won, but they robbed him. The idea is to go for the knockout otherwise they could rob you.
"It shows a bit of cowardice, not on him but on his team because they don't want him to fight outside his country as they know he'll lose. But I do trust that the WBC are fair and they will be neutral - the best man will win. I'd be very proud to take the WBC belt home."
McDonnell's world title fight against Vargas tops a busy bill and hometown star Luke Campbell can climb further up the lightweight rankings when he takes on another Mexican in Jairo Lopez.
Campbell's fellow Hull favourite and old foe Tommy Coyle returns to action against Manchester's Kofi Yates, while Doncaster heavyweight David Allen and Scunthorpe's unbeaten light-heavyweight prospect Dec Spelman also feature on the card.
