Lee McGregor on the Fast Track to a World Title Following His Destruction Guerfi
Lee McGregor (10-0, 8 KOs) is one of the bright young stars of the British boxing scene. Since turning pro in November 2017, the 24-year-old from Edinburgh, Scotland has been tearing it up domestically. In only his fifth professional fight, he captured the vacant British Commonwealth title. Fight number eight saw the kind nicknamed “Lightning” defeat Ukashir Farooq to win the British Bantamweight title. He is already ranked 4th in the world by the IBF.
He is taking a step up in competition in facing European 118-pound champion, Karim Guerfi (29-5, 9 KOs). The 34-year-old from Manosque, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France is a grizzled vet. Guerfi is also ranked 8that bantamweight by the IBF.
QUICK FAST AND IN A HURRY
McGregor is a boxer-puncher. He found success early and often with the body punches. A minute into the opening round, he put Guerfi down with a pinpoint left hook to the ribs.
From that point on, the Scot pounced. Another body shot put the Frenchman down two minutes into the round. McGregor finished matters off, putting Guerfi down for a third time with a left hook to the head. Referee John Latham waved the fight off with seventeen seconds to go in the opening round!
This was an eye-opening performance as McGregor is now the new European bantamweight champion. There is no question he is on the fast track.
Because this was a contest of two men ranked in the top ten by the IBF, McGregor now puts himself in line to become the IBF’s mandatory contender at 118. Is he now ready to face the current IBF world Bantamweight title holder, Naoya Inoue?
Even his handlers are not willing to go there yet. However, after the fight, McGregor and his team indicated that they would like to fight for a world title in the next twelve months. Given his talent and his prodigious rise, that seems to be more than an attainable goal.
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
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