Fans flocking to Vegas fight

The Dewsbury Moor sports star will be taking a legion of excited fans with him when he competes for the WBO World title next month in Vegas.

Many have already booked their flights so they can cheer on Gary from the stands at Mandalay Bay. Mark Waters, who has been to all of Gary’s fights, said: “We have been really close mates.

“He is a sportsman, but he is a mate more than that. He is doing well and I want to support him.”

For local boxing fans, seeing a boxer from Dewsbury fight Adrian Broner in Las Vegas is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Mr Waters, 27, said: “In the pub in 40 years time we will remember it. I don’t want to watch the fight in a pub in Dewsbury – I want to say I was there.”

Mo Pandor has already booked his tickets and is arranging the trip for around 20 others.

He has followed Gary’s career since the boxer started going to his cafe, Mochaccino’s in Dewsbury town centre, during his days as an amateur.

Mr Pandor said: “I go to a lot of boxing shows, and him being from Dewsbury means a lot.

“If he wins Dewsbury is going to be put on the map for years.

“One punch and he has won the title. At the end of the day, he is never going to get a chance like that again.”

After Gary’s bout on May 19, Amir Khan’s much anticipated world title fight against Lamont Peterson will take place.

Mr Pandor said: “The additional bonus for Gary will be the 3,500 Amir Khan fans coming from the UK.

“He is going to get a lot of fans behind him. It’s going to be an electric atmosphere.”

Paul Shackleton, of Mirfield, has also booked his tickets to Las Vegas.

He was already looking to go to the Amir Khan fight before it was announced that Gary would fight on the same bill.

“I’ve followed Gary since he was an amateur,” he said.

“I looked into the Amir Khan fight a couple of months ago and as soon as I heard Gary was fighting I knew it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“Hopefully Broner will have an off-day and Gary will have the best fight of his life.”