Boxing coach Barry Clark says Mark McKeown has been hailed a ‘future world champion’, as the Coatbridge fighter prepares for his biggest stage yet.
McKeown, 27, is on the undercard off the sell-out Josh Taylor v Jack Catterall bout at the Hydro on Saturday, February 26, which will be screened live by Sky Sports.
Clark says it’s a massive opportunity for ‘Sparky Boy’ and hopes he can get his fight on TV to showcase what he can do.
McKeown’s previous opponent, Uriel Lopez, was extremely impressed following McKeown’s convincing win back in December.
McKeown beat Lopez by unanimous decision after six rounds during Probellum Unstoppable in Sunderland, and Clark revealed his opponent was hugely impressed by the performance.
Clark, who is head coach at Keir Hardie ABC in Newarthill, said: “We’re fortune that Mark has got on this bill, but to be fair to him he’s earned the chance to get on this with his past performances.
“To put it in context, the Mexican Uriel Lopez, who Mark fought in his last fight, has fought against world champions, and there was a wee bit of broken English, but he said Mark is going to be a world champion.
“That’s good enough for me.
“We know or believe we’ve got an extremely talented young fighter on our hands.
“But when you’ve got guys who have actually been in with him, and in with world champions, saying stuff like that, that’s all we need to know.”
McKeown will take a confidence boost from that into his next bout and Clark reckons his fighter has a huge opportunity being part of such a huge event on home soil.
Clark added: “It’s a massive bill to be on. I think every boxer in Scotland would love to have been on that.
“It’s the biggest boxing event in Scotland in a good wee while now, so to be part of something like that is massive for him.
“Hopefully he can get on the telly – that’s one we just need to wait and see – but just to be part of an event like that is great.
“His last fight was on Premier Sports and other TV networks, but this one is going to be on Sky Sports, so hopefully he gets on.
“If he just does what he does and makes a statement, hopefully that leads to bigger and better things again for him.”
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