Chasing another stand-out win and aiming to “look good” doing it.
That is the twin goal of Pat McCormack, who will headline on home soil in Matchroom’s visit to the North-East on September 6, when he faces Mexico’s Miguel Parra at the Rainton Arena.
The recently-turned 30-year-old is coming into this international test off the back of a dominant domestic affair in February, when former British and Commonwealth champion Robbie Davies Jnr was stopped in six rounds in Manchester.
“I believe people have only seen about 65 per cent of me and I’m only getting better,” said the Washington star, who is trained in Essex by Ben Davison.
If we’ve only seen two-thirds of the real McCormack so far then the welterweight world had better watch out.
McCormack, speaking to Boxing News, talked this week of his ambitions to win the British, Commonwealth and European titles “whatever order they come in” but the September 6 match in Houghton is going to strengthen his world credentials.
The boxer who won silver at the 2019 World Amateur Championships and Tokyo Olympics in 2021, will be defending his WBA Intercontinental welterweight championship in what is only his eighth pro fight, following seven straight wins, with five inside the distance.
McCormack is rated at eight by the World Boxing Association, with Parra at 12, making this an eliminator in everything but name.
The 32-year-old, nicknamed ‘Maquina’ (or machine to me and you) comes to the UK for the first time with impressive numbers, 25 wins (17 early) and a draw, with just five defeats.
His losses have come against good opposition on the road, including last summer in Santa Monica, where he was beaten on a 10-round split decision by undefeated New York-based Uzbek Shakhram Giyasov, who is the WBA’s number one ranked welterweight.
Parra has previously taken on two unbeaten opponents in Europe, Belgium’s Anas Messaoudi and ‘Albaniam King’ Florian Marku, putting both down but ultimately losing on points.
“ Parra is tough, game, and he’s been in there with some good people. So, I’ve got an opportunity to make a statement,” said Pat.
“I’m so glad this fight is in the North-East. I’m going to get the win and look good doing it.”
McCormack will be in good and close company at the Rainton Arena.
He will be joined by Cameron Vuong, his new team-mate at the Ben Davison Performance Centre in Essex.
Dazzling Vuong, from Blyth, has eight straight wins behind him but he is pitted here against a dangerous South American, Facunda Arce, who was in the North-East earlier this summer as the opponent for Tom Welland, taking the Essex star six rounds in Newcastle.
Also alongside McCormack will be old friend and North-East neighbour Mark Dickinson, a former team-mate at Birtley ABC, GB Boxing AND the Ben Davison Performance Centre.
Dickinson, now being coached at Dickinsons School of Boxing in Fencehouses by brother, Jacob, has a belter of a maiden English super-middleweight championship defence against Darlington’s former British light-middleweight title holder Troy Williamson.
Elsewhere, there is another derby, in more ways than one.
Derby’s popular, former WBO world champion Sandy Ryan is back in the UK for an East Midlands derby against Nottinghamshire’s Jade Grierson.
Also in action are three teenage talents as Tiah-Mai Ayton, Adam Maca and Leo Atang all have their second bouts in the professional ranks.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Mark Robinson/ Matchroom Boxing
