LEE MCGREGOR and Erik Robles shared their final pre-fight thoughts at yesterday’s press conference before they face one another on Friday night.
The Scot and the Mexican are gearing up for a bantamweight battle on McGregor’s home turf at the Meadowbank Sports Centre in Edinburgh.
McGregor 12-0-1 (9) put 13 months of inactivity behind him in March with an eight-round points win against Alexis Boureima Kabore in Newcastle. The run-out was designed to shake off the rust before a far greater test which arrives in the shape of the unknown 23-year-old Robles 13-1 (9).
“I never back down from a challenge, I’m a fighter and fear no challenge,” McGregor said.
The former British, Commonwealth and European champion at 118lbs fights in Scotland for the first time since his pulsating win over Kash Farooq in 2019. And the 26-year-old knows he can count on the home support who will make their presence felt throughout the fight.
“The atmosphere on Friday night is going to be electric and I am sure the crowd will help me if times get tough,” said the Scot. “You know what you are getting with these Mexican fighters and Robles is going to come and have a fight.
“But I’ve got the biggest heart out there. There is no quit in me and it is going to take something special to beat me on Friday night.”
Several weeks ago, it was announced that McGregor had signed with Wasserman Boxing, a move that put an end to a challenging period in the life of the Edinburgh fighter.
“I’ve been through far too much to not come away victorious and there is no way I am accepting leaving not leaving with that belt.
“They call me the Scottish Mexican because of my style, and this is going to be an exciting fight because our styles match up well.”
British boxing fans are now well accustomed to Mexican fighters travelling over and upsetting the odds. Mauricio Lara, Jeremias Ponce, Luis Alberto Lopez to name but three have played their part in asserting a one-sided rivalry between Mexico and Britain in recent years.
“I am not worried about being the away fighter and there is no pressure on me,” Robles said.
“Mexicans bring war everywhere they fight, this will be the same and I am not scared at all.
“Lee is really good fighter, he hits hard, and this is going to be a war and a great fight. But Mexico is going to win.”
The winner of Friday night’s main event, which will be live shown on Channel 5 in the UK, takes home the IBO bantamweight belt but Wasserman Boxing’s Nisse Sauerland says far greater rewards await McGregor should he be victorious.
“This is not an easy fight but should Lee win on Friday night, then the world is his oyster and there are a lot of big fights out there for him.”
