Exclusive - McDonnell handed chance to go from rags to Euro riches

Jamie McDonnell’s upset victory over Ian Napa to claim the British and Commonwealth bantamweight titles has seen him rewarded with a crack at the European crown, ironically at Napa’s expense.

Napa was set to cross the channel and contest the vacant European strap against France’s Jerome Arnould, but following his controversial split decision loss to McDonnell in Brentwood last week the Doncaster man will now travel to Cannes in Napa’s place to fight Arnould on March 6.

The 24-year-old Arnould possesses a record of 22-3-1 and appears to be a puncher with 14 of his wins coming inside the distance. Arnould challenged for the WBA bantamweight title in June 2007 but was knocked out in seven rounds by Wladimir Sidorenko. He has since bounced back with eight successive wins, five by stoppage.

It would be a remarkable accomplishment if McDonnell could return home as a triple title holder. The 23-year-old only fought twice in 2009 and was a heavy underdog to dethrone the stylish Napa. The gritty Yorkshireman, for many a fortuitous winner over Napa, will quietly fancy his chances though of springing another surprise.