Peter McGrail will not be calling himself the ‘Scouse Lomachenko’ anytime soon - but he is relishing the challenge of living up to the nickname.
The 25-year-old has been given label because his clinical and technically brilliant style of fighting is like that of the great Ukrainian boxer Vasily Lomachenko.
McGrail, who has a third professional contest in Dubai on Saturday night at Probellum Evolution, understands why fans have drawn the comparisons but he won’t be adopting the moniker just yet, as he continues to learn about the pro ranks.
The Everton Red Triangle (ERT) fighter was one of the stand-out amateurs of his generation, winning two bronze medals at World Amateur Championships as well as European Championships and Commonwealth Games gold.
But the Everton fan has no regrets about leaving the amateur code and is dreaming of emulating the success of former gym-mates Ryan Farrag and Kevin Satchell, who emerged from the ERT gym to become European champions.
“It’s sound, if people want to call me it, then they can call me it, but I’m not going to go around calling myself it,” McGrail said of the ‘Scouse Lomachenko’ tag.
“Look, I can see why they say it because I use my angles well, I’m a southpaw, I’ve come through the amateurs like he did and I’ve got similar movement to him, so they are not wrong when they say it. I’ve got to live up to the name but I’m doing ok at the moment.”
McGrail out-classed Ed Harrison on his pro debut last year before stopping Engel Gomez in his second paid contest.
The former Great Britain amateur takes on Alexandru Ionita over six rounds at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium on Saturday night, with the fight shown live on Eurosport.
McGrail is aiming for his first outing of 2022 to act as a springboard towards being in the title contention by the end of the year – and a step closer to emulating the success of Satchell and Farrag.
“When I was a teenager, I was sparring them loads in the gym,” McGrail said with a big smile.
“Ryan when to Stephane Jamoye’s backyard and ripped his European title off him, and Kev was British, Commonwealth and European champion. Me and the lads in the gym are the next crop coming through.
"I believe that me, my brother Joe, Bradley Strand, Andrew Cain and Nick Ball will become world champions and it is us who are now flying the flag for Everton Red Triangle.
“But I’m just concentrating on tomorrow night. I’ve got an eight rounder in Liverpool in April and I want to be pushing onto 10 rounds by the end of the year, so I’ll be looking to be in European title fights at some point next year.”
McGrail will be cheered on in Dubai by a travelling army of supporters and a number of Scousers who are living out in the Middle East.
“My mum and dad, my two brothers are here,” McGrail buzzed.
“My girlfriend, her Dad, his friend Ray, my two cousins, Craig and Bradley, and there are already loads of Scousers already over here who have been asking for loads of tickets and I’m meeting someone else later today to give them some more out. Hopefully they make some noise tomorrow night!”
Peter McGrail’s fight with Alexandru Ionita at Probellum Evolution in Dubai will be shown live in the UK on Eurosport’s linear channels, discovery+ and Eurosport App.
