By Shaun Brown
Slowly but surely, Kevin McIntyre, 30-8 (9), is putting himself back in the British welterweight picture.
After his disappointing appearance in ‘Prizefighter’ back in June he posted a thoroughly entertaining points decision victory over fellow Scot Gary McMillan at the end of last month. A contest that not only delighted the paying public but also promoter, Alex Arthur, as it headlined the former world champion’s promotional debut show.
“The recovery wasn’t too bad after that fight. I was sore a couple of days after although it’s not so much the punches you take, more the work you do yourself,” said McIntyre.
The 33-year-old’s trainer, Colin Belshaw, told me after the fight, “That’s the proudest I’ve ever been of Kevin tonight” – referring to the determination his charge showed in climbing off the canvas twice in the opening round after McMillan had planted a couple of body shots that exploded into McIntyre’s ribs.
“I wasn’t sure how he [McMillan] was going to box like but we got caught up in the whole macho thing. It’s not my style to go in and have a tear up but I thought once I recovered from the knockdowns and got into my rhythm I took over the fight quite comfortably.”
A former British champion, the Paisley southpaw is now hoping to make another defence of his Celtic title later this year and then it’ll be all systems go for another crack at the Lonsdale belt, although he does hold out some hope that the opportunity arrives sooner.
“I was hoping to be fighting [Lee] Purdy for the British title but I see now that [Denton] Vassell is his mandatory. I know Purdy was up for fighting me in a voluntary but it’s down to Matchroom Sport [Purdy’s promoter]. I’ve not actually seen Purdy fight and when I heard he beat [Craig] Watson I thought it must’ve been a fluke, because Craig’s a very good boxer, but the second time proves it wasn’t no fluke.
“I’m hopeful that my next fight can be a title eliminator. There’s talk of Alex (Arthur) putting on another show in Edinburgh later this year so here’s hoping I can be on that and defend my Celtic title. There are a couple of Welsh boys that the British boxing board could put up against me like Lee Cook or Bradley Pryce. I think I’ve earned the right to be in an eliminator at the very least.”
