McGregor Open To Farooq Rematch In Edinburgh For European
Lee McGregor is already of the mindset that a rematch with Kash Farooq would sell.
The Edinburgh fighter, 22, took on his Glasgow rival at a packed Emirates Arena last Saturday and headed back up the M8 with a controversial split decision victory and a British bantamweight title to add to the Commonwealth honour he already holds.
McGregor met Farooq, who scored three knockouts to win the Lonsdale belt prior to meeting ‘Lightning’, on Saturday night, live on iFL TV, ESPN+ and BBC Scotland.
And after getting the win on scorecards of 114-113, 113-114 and 115-112, McGregor’s attention has already been turned to a return against the Pakistan-born puncher.
“What an unbelievable night,” McGregor wrote on social media shortly after the fight.
“I went into Farooq’s back yard to fight the champion after just seven fights.
“[It was an] absolutely unreal fight from start to finish [and] credit to Kash Farooq and his team.
“[There has been] so many different opinions on the fight –– I think we can all agree the 115-112 card was maybe a bit wide, especially with the point off –– and I think people need to forget how wide the scoring was and [remember] how good and close a fight us two young champions put on.”
Farooq had long been regarded as one of the best-kept secrets of Scottish boxing but even in defeat the 23-year-old proved that he belongs at the upper echelons of at least the domestic level in the bantamweight division.
But McGregor, coached by Grant Smith at the Steel City gym in Sheffield, is now targeting a shot at the European title before a potential second showdown –– and he thinks it could do even bigger numbers than the sold-out first meeting.
“I obviously have to sit down with my team and see what’s next but I really would love to go on and challenge for the European title,” added McGregor.
Frenchman Georges Ory is the current custodian of the blue belt and is in action next Saturday when he defends the title against former king Karim Guerfi at Saint-Nazaire's Salle la Soucoupe in Loire-Atlantique in France.
“ would be more than happy to bring that belt back to Scotland and make the first defence against Kash,” McGregor concluded. “[We could] have another huge fight in Scotland. This time, let’s maybe come to Edinburgh and sell out [the home of Heart of Midlothian Football Club, which McGregor supports] Tynecastle Park!”
