TIMING is a crucial part of any successful boxer's armoury, and Stevie McGuire believes his may just be perfect when he faces Brian Magee for the vacant British super-middleweight title next week.
The Glenrothes fighter has steadily, if unspectacularly, maintained an unbeaten record in 15 contests since turning professional five years ago and is being rewarded with his first major championship shot against former IBO world title holder Magee i
n Brentwood on 13 December.
McGuire had originally been mandated to challenge Carl Froch for the British crown but the Nottingham man relinquished the belt in order to take on Jean Pascal for the WBC world title this weekend.
The Scot's prospects of overcoming Magee are certainly more favourable, and he is counting on the 33-year-old Northern Irishman being past his best. "Magee is a former world champion and I respect that," said McGuire, "but I think I might be getting him at the right time. Why can't I beat him? I've not lost to anyone they have put in front of me so far.
"It's a massive opportunity for me and I've got nothing to lose. Magee will be desperate to win the title, because he maybe sees it as his last chance at this level. That might make him more dangerous, but I'm ready for him."
McGuire's camp have left no stone unturned in their efforts to see the 27-year-old become the first Scot ever to win the British 12-stone title. He spent two weeks at a training camp in Cyprus, while manager Tommy Gilmour this week recruited unbeaten Polish prospect Gregorz Proska as a sparring partner.
"I don't remember bringing in as many different people to try and win a championship for a boxer," said Gilmour. "Magee is one of the trickiest southpaws around, so we sent Stevie to Cyprus to work with a coach who specialises in fighting southpaws.
"We then brought Proska, who is an excellent southpaw, over here to give Stevie the best possible sparring. He has also been working with Bernie Hammersley, a conditioning and nutrition specialist.
"This is a massive chance for Stevie and we want everything to be right for him to make the most of it. Magee is tried and tested at championship level, but I believe we could have the new British champion on our hands next week. If Stevie can make Magee fight at a pace which he dictates, and not let him slow it down, then I think he has a great chance."
McGuire believes he has benefited from the change in training regime, adding greater endurance to a boxing style he feels he has now refined from his days as a Scottish amateur champion.
"I've never trained before like I did in Cyprus," he said. "I had a two-hour session on the beach every morning and another two-hour session in the gym in the evening. It was flat-out and I was pushed further than I thought I was capable of going.
"I think I have improved a lot since I first turned professional. For the first few fights, I was still fighting like an amateur, but I'm much more effective with the professional style now."
McGuire is trained by his father, also Stevie, who also supervises British featherweight champion Paul Appleby.
"I'm probably harder on Stevie than I am on any other boxer, because he is my son," admitted McGuire Snr. "When he doesn't do the things he is capable of, then I lose the head with him a bit more. But he has made great progress and I'll be the proudest man in the world if he wins the British title next week."
The full article contains 627 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
