By Shaun Brown
Gavin McDonnell (14-0-2, 4 KOs) has vacated his European super bantamweight tite.
The EBU (European Boxing Union) had called for purse bids, due for today (12pm Rome time) for McDonnell to defend his belt against British champion Jazza Dickens (21-1, 6 KOs).
McDonnell vacated his crown last week and is scheduled to return in February or March in a bigger fight on the world scene.
"If [Kell] Brook fights on February 20 it's going to be then in Sheffield if not it'll be early March," his promoter Eddie Hearn told BoxingScene.com today.
McDonnell was last in action on October 24 when he successfully defended his title over 12 rounds against Jermoy Parodi, in what was his first and now only European title defence.
Should Dickens fight for the vacant title then it could well be against former IBF 122lb world champion Kiko Martinez (35-6, 26 KOs).
The Spaniard also held the European title in 2007 2010 and 2011 and is now the EBU's number one contender. The 29-year-old is no stranger to British and Irish fight fans having faced Rendall Munroe, Jason Booth and Carl Frampton over the year.
Shaun Brown is Boxing Scene's UK Editor. Follow him on Twitter @sbrown2pt0. Contact him at sbrownboxing@gmail.com
