Craig McEwan's fight on Sky Sports

[scrap iron]

What did people think of Edinburgh's Craig McEwan last night? He sounds like he's got all the credentials for being a prospect to watch; unbeaten, good amateur pedigree, nice switch-hitting style, living in Hollywood and being trained by Freddie Roach (who I noticed was wearing a Hibernian football top, nice touch).
But in the ring last night I thought he looked a bit disappointing. He was leaving his chin in the air when throwing punches, was telegraphing his body shots and seem to run out of ideas when he couldn't stop his opponent.
Ok; there was some good stuff, a bit of speed and some nice footwork, but he didn't look like a future world champion. I know Jim Watt liked him, but I was totally impressed.
I noticed he is the exact same age as another fellow unbeaten British middleweight prospect Darren Barker. That would be a good comparison to rate his development and at this stage I would say Barker would beat McEwan fairly comfortably. Both have similar power and handspeed (Barker with the slight edge in that department). But Barker is harder to hit and looks more seasoned then the Scotsman. I think Barker would pick off McEwan at will.

[Asterix]

See here: http://forum.boxrec.com/viewtopic.php?p ... 5#p1402775

McEwan looks talented. Excellent right jab. Don't like his "Wittering" though - all that switching that he likes to do, and all that pulling back from shots with chin unprotected.

As seen with the similar (and very able) Andy Lee, an excellent amateur does not make a great pro all the time. Some faults that maybe need ironing out, to forestall any potential disasters, but a promising fighter. Good to see a Brit learning his craft vs hard headed (albeit significantly smaller) Mexicans.

He looked great when he was boxing from the outside and creating good angles with his footwork. His defence is obviously lacking and he doesn't look like much of a finisher. One to keep an eye on but not (yet) one to watch.

[Dioufy]

Lacks power, keeps in punching range too much and fucks me out when he turns orthodox - he's such a better south-paw than switcher. All in all though, he's someone I will look out for but me thinks he needs to improve a hell of a lot - he's certainly not 'one-to-watch' though, at the moment.

[Autobarn]

Definitely should stay southpaw, as he has a great jab. His jab sets everything up.

[Dioufy]

No doubt about it. You'd think Roach would tell him this - everytime he went orthodox (quite a bit) he got tagged by silly shots.

[Poncey]

Only thing that worries me is he still swings in an Amateur style sometimes. Big legs, though, should bode him well in the future.

Never thought I'd see Roach in a Hibs shirt.

[Finch]

Where can i watch his fight ?

I got chatting to him when i was training at Freddie Roach's gym in the summer, i have to admit i didn't have a clue who i was talking to until i found him on the web. Seemed like a sounds down to earth fella.

[sarbox]

Like Jim Watt, I was impressed by McEwan. Good footwork, fast hands and in my opinion looked pretty hard to hit.

Scrap Iron, I don't know how you can compare him to Darren Barker at this stage. Firstly, have a look at Barker's record. McEwan fought his 12th professional fight last night. Look at his opponent. He had won double the number of fights he had lost and had fought for a World Youth Title. Barker's 12th opponent was Ojay Abrahams, who was 20-73-4. McEwan's previous opponents include former Latino and Mexican Champions. Secondly, Darren Barker has had 18 pro fights to McEwan's 12. That's 50% more pro experience. Anyone watching a live TV fight can't possibly accurately compare the two. I'm saying this with no disrespect to Darren Barker who has fought good opponents in his last 3 bouts and has done well.

How often has it happened that British boxers have stepped into the American arena and come up short? McEwan is learning his trade in America and sparring with the likes of Margarito and Hopkins and has managed to gain their respect.

Craig McEwan decided to turn pro in America. Since then Calzaghe, Hatton and Haye have belatedly followed his lead and now Amir Khan has learned the hard way that British boxing is substandard and the way forward is to move over the pond. Don't criticise McEwan for being a pioneer.

Dioufy, why does Freddy Roach not tell McEwan to stop switch-hitting. Respectfully, maybe Freddy Roach knows more about boxing than you do.

[Dioufy]

Dioufy, why does Freddy Roach not tell McEwan to stop switch-hitting. Respectfully, maybe Freddy Roach knows more about boxing than you do.

I never said, nor claimed otherwise. It was just blatantly obvious that as soon as he turned orthodox he was uncomfortable and got hit cleanly off someone who was way too small for him - if he came up against a similar sized opponent who could break an egg then he would suffer badly I think with that style. But when he started fighting south-paw he started to control the guy - it was also easier for him to keep the distance and stay out of range, not to mention it enabled him to use his jab a lot more which set up the wide left-hand (a shot that hurt him I think). It's just common sense really. If something doesn't work then why not tell him to change to something that has been proven TO work? I really can't see the debate going any further - I am sorry we don't agree.

[sarbox]

I take your point Dioufy, there are things to be worked on but that's the same with every boxer. As for Lopez being smaller, Lopez is 6ft and weighed in heavier than McEwan. He now also looks a genuine middleweight.

McEwan was never hurt once by a punch. He was never really hit. Maybe his tactics would be different against a better opponent. The fact remains that Lopez has not a bad pedigree. He took Mike Alvarado the distance. Alvarado at the time of the fight had KO'd every one of his opponents and is now rated 22nd in the world at light-welterweight, and unlike against McEwan, Lopez won rounds.

Give McEwan the credit that he deserves. He put in a good performance against a useful opponent. In my opinion, he is very talented fighter and the range of his talents (including his ability to switch) should be the envy of most British boxers.

[Autobarn]

I think ppl are giving McEwan the credit he deserves. I've seen him fight 3 times (not counting ITV h/l of that Vegas show the day before Floyd-Hatton) and it's good to have a talented Brit. Especially one who is learning his trade vs hard headed, tough Mexicans who hit back. He's not being taught to be a bully, like Khan was.

I think a lot of ppl acknolwedge that he boxes beautifully from the southpaw stance, but that when he switches he gets hit more & starts to look untidy. Obviously he feels good switching. Does he maybe need a slightly more disciplined style, I wonder?

I wouldn't say British boxing is substandard. I would say that with Khan it was a case of building a record, more than building a fighter.

[THEBUTCH]

I couldn't stand McEwan in the amatuers, but I really like the look of him as a pro. I'll be looking forward to seeing how he continues to develop.

Reminds me of Darren Barker in as much as they have both realised the adjustments they need to make to their styles in the pro ranks.

Could be a top fight between the two of them in a year or so. Craig looks like another good addition to the British middleweight division.

[Dioufy]

I will give him credit because he deserves it but regardless of Lopez's credentials (a natural light welterweight, perhaps welterweight) he looked better from south-paw. I think if he would've boxed from his jab (which seems decent) then he would've got Lopez out of there. To not stop him, especially after that first round won't get him credit for me because even though Lopez looked tough, he got hit a hell of a lot and would've been stopped if he ate McEwan's left hand more often. But saying that, I guess it's good that he got the rounds in so you can look at it from both angles. And as for Lopez looking like a natural 160'lber? He just looked fat to me.

[stujones]

I think he will not be a puncher when he steps up and utimately that will cost him, but I'd like to see him comeback in a year or so to the Uk and fight the likes of Smith, Elcock etc.

[Dioufy]

I would really like to see him in against Bendall in a few fights - that would tell us what level he's at.

[Autobarn]

But will he ever come to the UK? I know he was going to appear on a VIP show but the opponent pulled out and scuppered things.

[bigped]

Craig was over in edinburgh last few months, had his first child and got married ect. He is more than willing to fight in britain and he will fight anyone in Britain when asked. He seemed like he wanted to step it up when i spoke to him and this is prob why he looks a bit stale maybe.

Why didnt you like him as an amature mate? his record was superb,, anyway hes fighting reguarly and hopes to be really stepping it up in next 12 months, when i asked him of his world title aspirations seems very confident of grabbing a belt so watch this space.

[Finch]

said he'd bring his kid up as a yank.

[steve689]

I've seen McEwan fight once (on Telemundo) and looked the opposite of everything i'd heard about him.

Tall, upright, stiff, amateur style. Didn't move the head and was hit far too often.

What's the fuss?

[Gray-Fox]

He's ok.

[scrap iron]

Like Jim Watt, I was impressed by McEwan. Good footwork, fast hands and in my opinion looked pretty hard to hit.

Scrap Iron, I don't know how you can compare him to Darren Barker at this stage. Firstly, have a look at Barker's record. McEwan fought his 12th professional fight last night. Look at his opponent. He had won double the number of fights he had lost and had fought for a World Youth Title. Barker's 12th opponent was Ojay Abrahams, who was 20-73-4. McEwan's previous opponents include former Latino and Mexican Champions. Secondly, Darren Barker has had 18 pro fights to McEwan's 12. That's 50% more pro experience. Anyone watching a live TV fight can't possibly accurately compare the two. I'm saying this with no disrespect to Darren Barker who has fought good opponents in his last 3 bouts and has done well.

How often has it happened that British boxers have stepped into the American arena and come up short? McEwan is learning his trade in America and sparring with the likes of Margarito and Hopkins and has managed to gain their respect.

Craig McEwan decided to turn pro in America. Since then Calzaghe, Hatton and Haye have belatedly followed his lead and now Amir Khan has learned the hard way that British boxing is substandard and the way forward is to move over the pond. Don't criticise McEwan for being a pioneer.

Dioufy, why does Freddy Roach not tell McEwan to stop switch-hitting. Respectfully, maybe Freddy Roach knows more about boxing than you do.

You clearly know your stuff Sarbox and I certainly have respect for someone moving halfway across the world to further his boxing career. However if you look at the other two big Celtic middleweights prospects who have done this, John Duddy and Andy Lee, they seem to have struggled Stateside this year and I certainly don't think McEwan is any better then those two.

If you did read my post you'd notice I did praise McEwan handspeed and footwork, it just at this stage McEwan has yet to convinced me he is good enough to become a world champion.

As far as the Barker comparison is concerned you are right, I'm comparing a 12 fight prospect with a 18 fight prospect. However as amateurs they both did go to the Commonwealth Games and Barker won gold, but McEwan could only managed a bronze. Barker only fought Ojay Abrahams as Ojay was literally dragged in as a last minute replacement for another fighter who pulled. Barker actually won the Southern Area middleweight title in his 12th fight and in his 14th fight he knocked out Paul Samuels who was 17-2-2. Samuels was certainly a better fighter then Hilario Lopez.

I wish McEwan the best of luck, but if they ever meet, I still think Barker would win against him.