Why May Has Become a Massive Month for British Boxing

May always promises much in Great Britain.

As the temperatures rise and daylight extends longer into the evening, there is a feeling that summer is just around the corner.

There is also the added bonus of not one but two bank holidays, meaning there are a pair of Mondays when you don't have to be stuck at work.

This year, the month also offers plenty for British boxing fans to get excited about.

The announcement that Kell Brook will defend his IBF welterweight title against fellow Englishman Frankie Gavin has only added to the list of intriguing fights coming up.

We take a look at the big bouts involving Brits—have you a favourite among the bunch? If so, let us know using the comments section.

Jamie McDonnell vs. Tomoki Kameda

WBA bantamweight champion Jamie McDonnell gets the chance to add a second world title to his collection when he faces WBO holder Tomoki Kameda on May 9.

The bout at the State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, Texas, United States, is an exciting opportunity for the Doncaster fighter, who used to hold the IBF belt.

In an interview with Sky Sports, McDonnell revealed he was looking forward to the possibility of unifying the division: "Unification fights against big names where I can make a statement—that's what I'm all about now."

Kameda's record suggests he will be a tough nut to crack—he has a perfect 31-0 record so far as a professional.

The 23-year-old also has the experience of fighting on American soil, having defended his title in Las Vegas and Chicago in 2014.

McDonnell is not the only Brit in action in Hidalgo, with Ricky Burns also on the same bill.

The Scotsman takes on Omar Figueroa in a fight that he can ill afford to lose at this stage of his career.

Burns has won just once in his last four outings and has lately looked a shadow of the fighter who became a world champion at two different weights.

Billy Joe Saunders and Chris Eubank Jr.

Rivals Billy Joe Saunders and Chris Eubank Jr. find themselves on the same card at Wembley Arena on May 9.

The pair of middleweights met in the ring last November, with Saunders coming out on top via a points decision. His success secured him the British, Commonwealth and European titles.

However, it seems one fight was not enough to settle the duo's long-running feud.

They went toe-to-toe in a verbal battle at a recent press conference staged by promoter Frank Warren, with Eubank challenging his rival to a rematch in the capital, per Declan Taylor of the Daily Mail.

For the moment, though, Eubank is scheduled to face Les Sherrington in a 12-rounder in May.

Saunders—who stepped aside to allow Peter Quillin to fight WBO middleweight champion Andy Lee—is yet to find out who he will be facing on the bill.

He hopes to get a world title shot at some stage in 2015, per ESPN.co.uk, meaning Eubank might have to wait for an opportunity to avenge his solitary defeat.

James DeGale vs. Andre Dirrell

Peter Morrison/Associated Press

James DeGale will get the chance to make history when he meets Andre Dirrell on May 23 in Boston.

Chunky could become Britain's first Olympic gold medalist to go on and become a world champion if he beats his American opponent to claim the vacant IBF super middleweight title.

The Londoner has won 10 in a row since suffering his one and only defeat as a pro at the hands of rival George Groves.

He has already talked about a potential rematch with his compatriot, telling Sky Sports: "Once you've won the title, it's about building and unifying and being in those great, exciting fights. That's what I plan to do, but first I need to get past Dirrell, which is a hard, hard task in itself."

DeGale is right to point out that Dirrell will be no pushover.

The American (24-1, 16 KO) has only been beaten once himself, going down on points to former IBF champion Carl Froch in 2009.

Kell Brook vs. Frankie Gavin

As already written about on Bleacher Report, Kell Brook has opted to stay busy by putting his IBF belt against Frankie Gavin.

The Sheffield welterweight only made the first defence of the title on March 28, forcing the overmatched Jo Jo Dan to retire on his stool after four rounds.

Rather than take a break from training, Brook has agreed to make a quick return to the ring on May 30.

Gavin (22-1, 13 KO) will be a heavy underdog at the O2 Arena in London though that does not mean he should be underestimated.

A former amateur world champion, the 29-year-old from Birmingham seems confident he can cause an upset, per Matchroom Boxing: "On my day, I can beat anyone. If I win this fight, any fight in the division is there for me down the line. I have wanted a world title fight for a long time, and I am not going to let it go now."

Brook, however, will easily be the toughest test of Gavin's career to date.

The Special One has a 34-0 record, with 23 of his victories coming inside the distance. He became a world champion last August by beating Shawn Porter on points.

Kevin Mitchell vs. Jorge Linares

On May 30, Kevin Mitchell will hope to make it third-time lucky in his attempts to become a world champion.

The Londoner will have home advantage at the O2 Arena, with Jorge Linares heading to the English capital with the WBC lightweight belt in his possession.

Mitchell has found himself in this position before, twice working his way up the rankings to earn world title shots only to then fall at the final hurdle.

He suffered at the hands of Michael Katsidis at Upton Park, the home of his beloved West Ham, to miss out on becoming the interim WBO champion in 2010.

A second opportunity with the same organisation came along two years later though Ricky Burns stopped Mitchell inside four rounds.

However, he has won six on the spin since that defeat in 2012, with his most recent success seeing him outclass Daniel Estrada. 

It is a case of now or never for the 30-year-old from Dagenham.

Lee Selby vs. Evgeny Gradovich

Lee Selby gets a crack at Evgeny Gradovich's IBF featherweight belt on a bumper bill at the O2 Arena, London, on May 30.

The Welshman has won honours at British, Commonwealth and European level as well as claiming the WBC International featherweight strap last year.

He has a 20-1 record, his only defeat coming back in 2009 at the hands of Samir Mouneimne.

The Barry Boy Assassin is confident he will dethrone the champion, per Gareth Griffiths of Wales Online: "When I beat Gradovich, I will send a message to the rest of the featherweights—I am coming for them next."

Gradovich (19-0-1) has held the title since March of 2013 though he needed a draw against Jayson Velez last time out to retain his grip on the silverware.

Born in Russia, he now resides in California and has never actually fought professionally in his homeland.

Anthony Joshua vs. Kevin Johnson

Ivan Sekretarev/Associated Press

Anthony Joshua could be set to box twice in the month of May, per Sky Sports.

The heavyweight is set to be added to the scheduled Matchroom card in Birmingham on May 9, stepping in as a replacement for Frankie Gavin (who is now taking on Kell Brook later on in the same month).

While he does not yet have an opponent confirmed for that date, the gold-medal winner at the 2012 Olympics does know who he will be facing on May 30.

Kevin Johnson will travel across from the United States to see if he can cause an upset.

Kingpin (29-6, 14 KO) is no stranger to fighting in Britain—he previously took part in a Prizefighter tournament in 2012 while Tyson Fury and Dereck Chisora have also beaten him in the past.

He should provide the sternest test yet of Joshua's unbeaten record.

Amir Khan vs. TBC

John Locher/Associated Press

We are still waiting to find out who exactly Amir Khan will be facing next.

It seemed Chris Algieri—whom Manny Pacquiao beat last November—had been confirmed for May 30, per The Guardian.

However, having initially released a video announcing the bout, Khan was forced to backtrack on the deal, telling The Sweet Science that nothing had been signed with Algieri (h/t Martin Domin of the Daily Mail).

Adrien Broner had previously been mentioned, per BBC Sport, as a possible foe, but we still seem no nearer to discovering the identity of Khan's future opponent.

The Bolton boxer was outstanding in his victory over Devon Alexander last December, with one of the judges giving him every round. 

He now has a 30-3 (19 KO) record but has not held a recognised world title since July of 2012.

Khan made it clear of his desire to face Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao, per Sky Sports, though he cannot afford to become preoccupied with just those two names.