One of the greatest British fighters of our generation.
Eddie Hearn, the author of those nine words, has never knowingly undersold anyone or anything in boxing.
But the Matchroom supremo has nailed it with that sentence about Pat McCormack after signing the former World Championship and Olympic silver medallist.
McCormack is not just good or even great. He is exceptional and, at the age of 27, probably coming towards his peak.
Hearn announced McCormack’s arrival as part of a notable double for Matchroom, alongside Pat’s former Birtley and GB Boxing colleague Mark Dickinson, who is his stablemate at the Ben Davison gym in Essex.
The capture of the Washington boxer probably comes a year after Hearn had hoped to add him to the Matchroom family.
Pat, twin Luke, plus Mark all signed for Probellum at the back end of 2021, something of a coup for the new and ambitious force in boxing.
However, Pat’s transfer to Matchroom and DAZN is probably a stark indicator of just where Probellum are at the moment.
In fact, McCormack has only boxed once for his previous promoters, a blink-and-you’ll-miss it debut win over Justin Kenzie at the Utilita Arena at the end of March.
Win number two came at the end of July on a Wasserman event at the Vertu Arena in Newcastle and was equally explosive, beating Dimitri Trenel in the first round.
“One of the greatest British fighters of our generation,” declared Hearn.
“Pat’s achievements in the amateurs speak for themselves.
“Silver medal at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, a gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast and a gold medal at the 2019 European Games in Minsk and many more.
“He’s one of the very best amateurs we’ve seen on these shores in recent times and I’m incredibly excited to guide his professional career moving forwards.”
So he should be.
McCormack is thrilled too by his prospects under boxing’s number one promoter.
“I believe with the backing of Matchroom Boxing and DAZN I’m in the perfect place to be able to fulfil my potential,” said McCormack.
“I’m looking forward to this exciting journey and truly believe I have what it takes to become a World Champion.
“There is nobody better to work alongside in boxing and I know that Matchroom and Eddie will promote me to the very top.”
McCormack enjoyed an amazing amateur career with a collection of medals as long as his arm.
He was the light-welterweight champion at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast before moving up to welterweight, striking gold at the European Games in Minsk a year later.
There was heartbreak in the final of the 2019 World Championships in Russia, where a cut eye forced a premature end and saw him lose out to Andrei Zamkovoi.
He was the favourite for Olympic gold in Japan last year, but was forced to settle for silver, coming up against the brilliant Cuban, Roniel Iglesias, in the final.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Mark Robinson/ Matchroom
