Workaholic with a tattooed throat – meet The Merthyr Mexican

It might be the giant sombrero that the rugged lightweight wears to the ring, in keeping with his moniker of 'The Merthyr Mexican'.

Or it will be the roaring lion prominently inked on his throat that invites the second glances and stares.

Lately, though, the proud valleys fighter is showing there are more reasons for people to take note.

Having already won British, Commonwealth and European titles, his upset of previously 16-fight unbeaten Khaleel Majid in May won him the WBA international belt at the weight above - and shot the 36-year-old up the rankings.

Now, as he prepares to face Manchester's Zelfa Barrett for the WBA intercontinental lightweight title at Wembley Arena on Saturday, 14 November, Gwynne knows he has a chance to be known for more than a nickname and a neck tattoo.

"I'm 36 but just feel like I'm getting better," Gwynne told BBC Sport Wales.

"Just look at Anthony Cacace, he was 35 when he won his world title. That's what I want. I want these big fights, even if I can get a title shot.

"All I have to do is win this fight and it pushes me in contention. It's must-win."

There are a fair few fighters who will attest to that, with even his most recent defeat – in November 2024 to the undefeated Cameron Vuong – booed by the crowd who seemed to disagree with the judges' scorecards.

Most fights tend to be – for better or worse – a war with Gwynne, noted when he stepped into a Mexican gym in Los Angeles.

"That's where the nickname came from," he smiled.

"The coach came out [just] as me and this local guy were sparring lumps out of each other.

"He asked me where I was from and I told him 'Merthyr' as if he was going to know where that was, and he said: "Oh, the Merthyr Mexican!"

"It suits as I'm non-stop and I just love fighting. It's just in me."

So if that is the nickname, what about the tattoo? It turns out, that is also something Gwynne feels comes from within.

"That lion is inside me, always trying to get out, so that's what's behind it," Gwynne explained of the arresting ink work over his throat that took four hours to complete.

"The pain was unbearable to be honest. I had to stick it because I wouldn't have gone back to finish it if I'd left."

If the tattoo is hard to ignore, Gwynne is hardly the 'look-at-me' kind.

He is a fighter more of sweat and slog than show-off, even putting his recent rise down to Lockett holding him back from training so much and instructing him to take more time to rest.

"I was draining myself and I was leaving it all in the gym," said Gwynne. "Come fight night, I didn't have anything left."

Now, there could be more to come if Gwynne can overcome Barrett, knowing it could put him on the road to world level.

"It's a massive step - and, as I say, it's must win because I haven't got time to build myself back up now," he added, casting a glance at some of the young Welsh hopefuls in Lockett's gym.