British welterweight Frankie Gavin will face the toughest fight of his blossoming career on Friday evening when he competes for the European title against current holder Leonard Bundu.

That encounter is the headline bout at Wolverhampton's Civic Hall on Friday evening, with the heavyweight clash between Australian Lucas Browne and Ukrainian Andriy Rudenko providing the chief support.

Over in the United States, WBO light-heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev will be looking to further improve his hard-hitting reputation against challenger Blake Caparello in Atlantic City.

Below, Sports Mole assesses all three matches, while also attempting to predict who will prevail in each contest.

1. Frankie Gavin vs. Leonard Bundu

In a weight class that also includes Amir Khan and Kell Brook, Frankie Gavin's progression up the world rankings has almost gone unnoticed, but Great Britain's first world amateur champion has moved himself into a position where he could potentially be a couple of wins away from a world title shot.

The Birmingham-born fighter can't claim to have beaten world-class opposition just yet, but he has showed his pedigree by coming through 19 fights without defeat ahead of his showdown with Leonard Bundu.

Bundu, who is unbeaten in 32 matches, is no stranger to British boxing fans after getting the better of Lee Purdy in a pulsating contest in London late last year, and while he is just four months shy of 40 years of age, the Italian southpaw has proven that he is an excellent operator.

The European belt holder is ranked in the top five of two organisations, with Gavin holding a similar standing in three governing bodies, and as well as a belt being on the line, it's the world ranking positions of the two men that make this encounter such an important contest for both of them.

This is Gavin's opportunity to make a statement not only in front of his local supporters but to British fans in general, and if he can produce the kind of performance that will excite the watching public, big things could follow for the 28-year-old.

2. Lucas Browne vs. Andriy Rudenko

Despite representing Australia, heavyweight Lucas Browne has effectively become an honorary Brit over the past eight months after exciting the UK supporters with his explosive, uncompromising style inside the ring an approachability outside of it.

However, after picking up the Commonwealth title, Browne has also shown that he is a credible force in the heavyweight division, forcing 18 stoppages in 20 matches to earn a place in the top 10 of two governing bodies.

It's been a fast rise to prominence for the 35-year-old, who is a former MMA fighter, and his path towards a world title shot could become a bit clearer if he can overcome Ukrainian Andriy Rudenko, who is unbeaten in 24 outings.

Any fighter who remains undefeated in 24 fights deserves respect, but Browne will take confidence from the fact that Rudenko has fought just once since taking eight rounds to beat Istvan Ruzsinszky, someone who David Price overcome in two minutes.

However, with the WBA intercontinental belt being on the line, this is a massive opportunity for both men and a competitive bout is expected, but if Browne can land with one of his trademark shots, it's unlikely that Rudenko will last the distance.

3. Sergey Kovalev vs. Blake Caparello

Ahead of his world title encounter with Nathan Cleverly last summer, Sergey Kovalev was considered nothing more than a huge puncher, but the Russian quickly showed during his clash with the Welshman that power might be all that he needs to rule at 175lbs.

On that night, where Kovalev demolished Cleverly inside the first third of the fight, he not only established his supremacy over Cleverly but it was the point at which he began to emerge as arguably the top fighter in the light-heavyweight division. Some will say Adonis Stevenson and Bernard Hopkins deserve to hold that honour, but Stevenson isn't unbeaten and Hopkins hasn't stopped anyone since 2004.

There's more to a boxer than their ability to knock out an opponent, but this is a big-punching weight class and so far, no-one has come close to showing that Kovalev can be defeated. Many will claim to have the blueprint to topple the 31-year-old, but few are prepared to step into the ring with him in fear of a two-round blowout that could significantly halter the path of their career.

Since the Cleverly win, Kovalev has brushed aside Ismayl Sillah and Cedric Agnew, and after failing to secure what would have been one of boxing's must-see showdowns with Stevenson, Blake Caparello has been placed into the path of Kovalev on Saturday night.

Caparello brings a record of 19 wins and one draw to the table, but his most recognised win is against a fading Allan Green, and while he can't be criticised for accepting a chance to fight for global honours, this could be a step too soon for the 27-year-old Australian and it would come as a surprise if he makes the second half of the fight.