Boxing: London calling as McEwan bids to kick-start his career

EDINBURGH boxer Craig McEwan is aiming to put a frustrating year behind him as he makes his return to the ring in tonight’s Prizefighter light-middleweight tournament in London’s York Hall.

It would be fair to suggest 2012 has not gone according to plan for the 30-year-old from Wester Hailes. A short spell over the summer months in Los Angeles, a city where McEwan spent almost six years between 2006 and the beginning of this year, failed to produce anything of note and the Scot returned home determined to kick-start his career on British shores.

His two fights this year – the most recent a convincing win two months ago at 
Dundee’s Ice Arena – haven’t been against boxers of the 
calibre he was hoping for.

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“It has been hugely frustrating.” McEwan said. “Fighting in Dundee, I wouldn’t have even classed that as a fight to be honest. The guy (Jay Morris) never turned up at all so it was just the worst thing ever. But this is a real competition with big prizes at the end of it which may lead to bigger things so it’s great exposure.”

This weekend’s tournament, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, will pitch McEwan into the quarter-final stage of the knock-out competition with seven opponents standing in his way of glory. However, without wanting to look too far beyond tomorrow night’s showdown, McEwan appreciates the potential rewards on offer should he emerge victorious.

He said: “It’s an opportunity for the other seven guys as well. I think the card has made me the favourite but I don’t like the sound of that. The favourite has never really won too often in the past and it puts a little bit more pressure on me, but I like being the underdog and surprising everybody. It’s a really tough tournament with having a potential nine rounds if you reach the final, so it’s a long night.

“Winning this is going to put me back on the map and especially with the TV coverage, it’s going to show people what I can do. It’s exciting stuff and I am ready to go.”