Dave Egan has a title plan after 'danger-man'

Jamaican-born Londoner McKray,30, may have lost 20 out of 25 professional contests but he has proved he has the punching power to knock a fighter out cold.

He has twice stopped an opponent in the first round and sent the undefeated Tom Shaw to the canvas at Walsall in January, as Egan looked on from the crowd.

McKray steps in for Kent-based Moroccan Joe Elfidh, who pulled out of the fight citing he was unavailable when the show was brought forward by 24 hours.

Egan and Elfidh could now meet later in the year for a Masters title fight, which could even be sanctioned over an eight-round distance rather than 10.

But, for that to happen, an upset to McKray is not an option, so the 29-year-old light welterweight and ex-Chasetown footballer will adopt a cautious approach.

He said: "It's kind of been agreed that, provided I get through tonight OK, I think we are going to go for a Masters title, possibly just over eight rounds.

"I am going up to six rounds tomorrow night and I don't want to jump up further too quickly."

Egan believes McKray can be all-too-easily underestimated and has vowed not to make the same mistakes Shaw and others have made before him.

McKray is a big-hitter but also a wild swinger with his punches, which Egan believes could play into his hands as the contest wares on tomorrow night.

He said: "Mark McKray is a dangerous opponent, but people who don't know that much about boxing will look at his record and think I should beat him easily.

"Those in the game know he only fights top prospects, he only ever seems to lose narrowly and he can really punch. It's a massive step up for me, really.

"I have a game-plan in every fight and spar and it always seems to end up in a war, that can't happen here. This is not a journey-man, this is a danger-man."