BoxRec

Press Release

Commonwealth bantamweight king Lee McGregor and British champion Kash Farooq will unify in Scottish boxing’s biggest night for more than a decade.

McGregor (7-0, 6 KOs) and Farooq (13-0, 6 KOs) will fight on the #MTKFightNight at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow on 16 November 2019, live on ESPN+ in the United States in association with Top Rank.



Edinburgh’s McGregor said: “I know it’ll be the hardest fight of my career and I would say the same goes for Kash. I know it’s going to be a tough night but I’m going to be fully prepared for it.

“When I was a kid, myself and my Dad used to watch British title fights and he told me back then: ‘I want you to win that title.’

“This is the biggest fight in Scotland for a long, long time. You have to go back to Alex Arthur’s reign to find a comparison. It’s massive for me, for Kash and for all the Scottish boxing fans.”

Glasgow’s Farooq said: “This harks back to the golden days of Scottish boxing. There’s no bad ‘beef’ – it’s just simply going to be a great night for the sport in our country.

“Two Scottish fighters facing each other for these two prestigious titles is a rare occasion and it’s great to be sharing the ring with Lee McGregor.

“I think the place will sell out quickly and everyone in Scotland will tune in to watch.”

Great news for boxing fans, should be an entertaining watch between two unbeaten fighters.

I’m glad they’ve made this fight quick. They seem to really want it. They know it’s a huge fight domestically for Scottish boxing.

No messing around.

Excellent fight - glad to see that both clearly want it and there's no fannying around "building it" when it's a big enough match already.

I think Lee came with a more hyped amateur background, but TBH Kash has impressed me more as a pro.

Good fight

Great stuff, both stepping up to the plate, this is how it should be.

magnus wrote: ↑06 Sep 2019, 14:32 Excellent fight - glad to see that both clearly want it and there's no fannying around "building it" when it's a big enough match already.

Yes well done to both men. Sportsmen indeed and may the best man win

Get in! Quality domestic clash that’s what we like to see. Early in their careers so a loss won’t harm either.

What’s the channel in the UK? Would have considered a weekend in Glasgow but kind of broke at the moment

black panther wrote: ↑07 Sep 2019, 02:52 Get in! Quality domestic clash that’s what we like to see. Early in their careers so a loss won’t harm either.

What’s the channel in the UK? Would have considered a weekend in Glasgow but kind of broke at the moment

Hopefully bbc Scotland pick it up. Be a great fight for council telly.

That's the problem with boxing nowadays, they all avoid each other......Wrong !!!

Another cracking fight made at exactly the right time. This fight has everything going for it and should be a humdinger.

Full credit to all concerned for making this happen and not letting a fantastic match slip away.

Luke Keeler added to Glasgow card
http://britishboxingnews.co.uk/blogs/lu ... arooq-card



World-ranked Luke Keeler is one of many huge names that have been added to the massive #MTKFightNight at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow on November 16.

The event is headlined with an incredible showdown between Lee McGregor and Kash Farooq for the British and Commonwealth bantamweight titles, live on ESPN+ in the United States in association with Top Rank and on iFL TV worldwide.

Keeler (17-2-1, 5 KOs) competes on the bill fresh off of his extremely impressive win over Luis Arias on the historic Feile an Phobail card in August, which has seen him climb to #3 in the WBO rankings.

Keeler said: “I’m delighted to be back. I’ve stayed in the gym since my last fight and now I’m back into full time camp feeling better than ever.

“It will be nice experiencing fighting in front of Scottish fans and hopefully I’ll get a good reception and I’ll do my best to put on a show for all of the fans.

“I was pleased with my last win considering I was underdog and it was convincing win, but watching the fight back I know I can still improve so much more and I’m determined to do so in this camp.”

Also added to the huge Glasgow card is unbeaten Kieran Smith (15-0, 7 KOs) who returns following a successful defence of his WBC International Silver title back in June.

Irish amateur sensation Paddy Donovan will be on the card too, following his professional debut on the #MTKFightNight at the Ulster Hall in Belfast on October 11.

Unbeaten stars Tommy Philbin (12-0, 4 KOs), Reece McFadden (4-0, 1 KO), Jack Turner (2-0), and Martin Harkin (10-0, 4 KOs) will all be on the card too.

#MTKFightNight at Glasgow’s Emirates Arena on November 16

Lee McGregor is looking to add another belt to his collection

The undefeated ‘Lightning’ (7-0, 6 KOs) bids to add Kash Farooq’s British bantamweight title to his Commonwealth crown on a sold-out #MTKFightNight at Glasgow’s Emirates Arena on November 16 – live on ESPN+ in the US in association with Top Rank and on iFL TV worldwide.

With all eyes on both sides of the Atlantic falling on the biggest Scottish bout for many, many years, McGregor is understandably full of fire.

McGregor said: “Winning the British title would mean so much to me but it’s not just about me – it would mean lots to my whole family too.

“My Dad has always said to me he’d love to see me win the British title so to do so in just my eighth fight two years after my professional debut would be great. I’m going to grasp this chance with both hands and take that British crown.

“I know Kash and he’s a good fighter. I’ve travelled all over with him as an amateur. I know a lot about him and I’ve sparred plenty of rounds with him. We know each other but we won’t look too much into that.

“I would say his strengths are his head movement and his timing. He’s got a few good attributes but he also has weaknesses I feel we can exploit. I’ll show them on fight night rather than talk about them. I’ll be victorious.”

Lee McGregor and Kash Farooq collide on an #MTKFightNight

Commonwealth bantamweight king Lee McGregor and British champion Kash Farooq will put their titles on the line on Scottish boxing’s biggest night for more than a decade.

McGregor (7-0, 6 KOs) and Farooq (13-0, 6 KOs) will collide on the #MTKFightNight at Glasgow’s Emirates Arena on November 16 – live on ESPN+ in the United States in association with Top Rank and on iFL TV worldwide.

The event harks back to Alex Arthur’s title clashes with Willie Limond, Craig Docherty and Ricky Burns in 2003, 2005 and 2006 respectively and with an American audience now set to supplement huge domestic exposure, both men know the stakes are high.

Edinburgh’s McGregor said: “I know it’ll be the hardest fight of my career and I would say the same goes for Kash. I know it’s going to be a tough night but I’m going to be fully prepared for it.

“When I was a kid, myself and my Dad used to watch British title fights and he told me back then: ‘I want you to win that title.’

“This is the biggest fight in Scotland for a long, long time. You have to go back to Alex Arthur’s reign to find a comparison. It’s massive for me, for Kash and for all the Scottish boxing fans.”

Glasgow’s Farooq said: “This harks back to the golden days of Scottish boxing. There’s no bad ‘beef’ – it’s just simply going to be a great night for the sport in our country.

“Two Scottish fighters facing each other for these two prestigious titles is a rare occasion and it’s great to be sharing the ring with Lee McGregor.

“I think the place will sell out quickly and everyone in Scotland will tune in to watch.”

McGregor won the Commonwealth belt with a stoppage of Thomas Essomba back in October while Farooq claimed the British belt by blasting aside Jamie Wilson within a round back in September of last year.

Great coverage on this fight in Boxing Monthly. This is the sort of bout that absolutely makes professional boxing. None of the Hearn artificial nonsense....two quality fighters willing to give it a go and risk losing their unbeaten record.

Got front row seats for this, absolutely cannot wait. Kieran Smith got a good fight on the bill also.

Wee Tommy wrote: ↑18 Oct 2019, 13:00 Got front row seats for this, absolutely cannot wait. Kieran Smith got a good fight on the bill also.

Lucky mate. This is top quality fight, both guys young and very handy. The type of fighters who often get held off from each other early in their careers.

So I take it this fight won't be on BBC Scotland??

Instead it'll be on ESPN+ in the US, which is good exposure.. and IFL's Youtube channel in the UK, courtesy of MTK.

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑18 Oct 2019, 13:36

Wee Tommy wrote: ↑18 Oct 2019, 13:00 Got front row seats for this, absolutely cannot wait. Kieran Smith got a good fight on the bill also.

Lucky mate. This is top quality fight, both guys young and very handy. The type of fighters who often get held off from each other early in their careers.

£100 no bad for a fight of this quality a think mate. Seen Farooq beat Butcher and then Macgregor beat Allan from close up and I pick Kash here. He’s quality I think man.

What do you think? Also any idea of Smiths opponent?

Wee Tommy wrote: ↑18 Oct 2019, 15:16

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑18 Oct 2019, 13:36

Lucky mate. This is top quality fight, both guys young and very handy. The type of fighters who often get held off from each other early in their careers.

£100 no bad for a fight of this quality a think mate. Seen Farooq beat Butcher and then Macgregor beat Allan from close up and I pick Kash here. He’s quality I think man.

What do you think? Also any idea of Smiths opponent?

I quite like Farooq in this one as well, thought McGregor would be mosts favourite but I've seen a few people tip him, pretty sure Jam has as well

I will have this on the laptop and channel 5 main event on the tv. hopefully both don't clash at the same time as both fights could be a decent scrap.
'

Ya like Kash here too, just looks a smoother boxer while being plenty strong himself. Really liked what I seen from him so far.

This will be on BBC Scotland as well.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑31 Oct 2019, 06:50 This will be on BBC Scotland as well.

Is it not on youtube?

Stuarty wrote: ↑31 Oct 2019, 08:28

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑31 Oct 2019, 06:50 This will be on BBC Scotland as well.

Is it not on youtube?

Via IFL?? Maybe it still is..