Just the start. That’s the vow from Pat McCormack as he aims to pick up the first belt of his professional career.
The 28-year-old takes on Tony Dixon, from Wales, for the vacant WBA Continental light-middleweight title in Sheffield on Saturday night.
It is only the fifth contest of a professional career which featured two bouts under the Probellum umbrella and now the third for Eddie Hearn.
Just like his Matchroom styablemate and former Birtley ABC and GB Boxing colleague, Cyrus Pattison, there is no holding back with the Washington boxer.
And why should there be? McCormack was at the very pinnacle of the amateur game as a World championship and Olympic Games silver medallist.
He has talent in abundance and a long apprenticeship is not required so it’s time to make the first step.
Matchroom gave his former Rio 2016 team-mate, Josh Kelly, a title fight in his sixth paid appearance and Hearn is well versed in knowing when to let his star performers loose.
“It’s my irst title fight,” said Pat.
“I won plenty of medals in the amateurs – Olympic silver, World silver, European Games gold, Commonwealth gold.
“But now it’s time to win some belts as a pro.
“We’re looking at bigger and better things.
“This is the start of the titles.”
Dixon in Thursday’s media conference in Sheffield promised “entertainment” and there is no knocking the enthusiasm of the 30-year-old from the beautifully-named Mountain Ash.
The former Welsh welterweight champion, who has been the distance with ex-British light-middleweight title king Ted Cheeseman, is as game as they come, and has twice fought for similar titles to the one he challenges for on Saturday.
He was outpointed by an undefeated Italian in Milan in 2019 for an IBF belt and the stopped by another unbeaten Azzurr figher in 2022, this time in Rome.
He’ll give it a go, but he’s up against something special as another hard-as-nails operator found in March, when McCormack stopped Dario Socci in Newcastle.
“Tony’s coming to win, he’s a tough game lad,” said the Ben Davison-trained boxer, who has won three out of four early.
“Fitness doesn’t win you fights.
“I’m levels above him and it’s going to show on Saturday night.
“Whatever he’s got to offer I’ve got an answer to.”
There can be little argument to that and McCormack is thrilled to be part of a gym that includes world champion Leigh Wood.
“We’ve got a great team around us – Ben Davison, Lee Wylie, Barry Smith,” he said.
“All of the guys in the gym are flying at the minute.
“There’s no stopping us at the minute. We’ll et this belt won on Saturday and push on from there.”
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Mark Robinson/Matchroom
