Boxing: McEwan's cash fears eased by Mexico fight

Despite racking up an unbeaten 19-bout streak in American rings from his Los Angeles base, Edinburgh middleweight Craig McEwan admitted that, but for financial support from sponsor Kelvin Lighting, he would have seriously considered coming back to his Auld Reekie hometown.

McEwan, who had just two fights in the USA in 2010, claimed: "It was bad enough being told that my proposed WBO middleweight title fight with Russian Dimitry Pirog had been vetoed by American TV channel HBO and Showtime Promotions because the American media people didn't think a world title fight between two foreigners like Pirog and I would draw, but my Golden Boy management team kept also telling me throughout 2010 that they found it hard to get opponents to fight me.

"Consequently, as a guy with a wife and two kids, I came under real financial pressure and, to be honest, it was touch and go at one point whether Sal and I packed out bags and came back to Edinburgh to get a day job while relaunching my career in the UK.

"However, I've just been told by Golden Boy that, as a result of their new contract with Mexican TV channel Televisa, I will have my next fight - an eight rounder - in Mexico on January 24."

And even though McEwan has no illusions about fighting a Mexican fighter on their home patch - the last Scottish fighter to do so, British champion featherweight Evan Armstrong, was stopped inside the distance by Joe Medel in 1968 - he conceded that his decision to take the bout was symptomatic of his desperation to get back inside the ropes and earn some money.

He added: "That's why, too, I've jumped at the chance to go to Mexico next week with coach Freddie Roach to spar with Julio Caesar Chavez junior, son of the Mexican ring legend.

"The money and the experience will be a great help but my main aim to is to get more fights in 2011 so that I am not too dependent on the financial backing of Edinburgh firm Kelvin Lighting, even though I fully appreciate their backing.

"I've also been told that if I do well in Mexico then Golden Boy will put me on the undercard of an Amir Khan world title fight in England on April 16 where I'd hope to clash with one of the top English light-middle or middleweights.

"But the bottom line is I don't want a repeat of last year's ring inactivity this coming year."