ONE thing you can always count on from a Glaswegian is conversation. Like their Scouse counterparts, Scots are known for their humour, love of a good time and willingness to talk to anyone who’ll listen.
Glasgow’s Regan Glackin managed to squeeze 30 minutes’ worth of talking into a 10-minute interview when Boxing News caught up with him ahead of Saturday night’s British title tilt against Louie O’Doherty. Glackin wasn’t rushing through his media duties – he was in fine Glaswegian form, relaxed and upbeat.
The 27-year-old comes from the city’s Robroyston area, about half an hour from the Braehead Arena where he fights this weekend. Victory would make him the seventh Scot to win the prestigious Lord Lonsdale belt at lightweight, following in the footsteps of Seaman Nobby Hall, Ken Buchanan, Willie Reilly, Jim Watt, Alex Dickson and Steve Boyle.
Glackin, 16-0 (3 KOs), only recently learned about the history of Scottish lightweights courtesy of Queensberry’s Dev Sahni during a media day in Manchester.
“I’m trying to create my own legacy, build my own name,” Glackin says. “I’m trying to follow in the footsteps of the people before me, but it’s all about putting my name next to them and creating my own history.”
Fighting at home against Essex’s O’Doherty and attempting to emulate Watt and Buchanan naturally brings expectation. Glackin, however, refuses to frame it as pressure.
“I don’t look at it as added pressure. I just look at it as a greatness that I could hopefully aspire to reach myself. I don’t try and put any added pressure on myself – there’s enough pressure. We’re going to fight in front of cameras and thousands of people – I look at that as a blessing that hopefully I can put my name up among these people.
“Being lucky number seven would be good, but as I said I don’t look at that at the moment. We can sit after that and go he’s number seven now. There’s no point looking ahead, there’s a job still to be done.”
The British title has long been Glackin’s target, one already achieved by his friend and training partner Nathaniel Collins, who defends his featherweight belt in Saturday’s main event.
“Winning a British title can catapult you,” he says.
“I’ve seen it first hand with my team-mate Nathaniel, the doors have opened [for him]. If you asked a 10-year-old Regan Glackin, it always for me was the British title. I don’t want to be someone that in 20 years’ time says, ‘That was me, I fought for the British title.’ I want to be able to say I won the British title. I’m obviously happy to get to this level but for me – the way I am and the way my team are – we’re not just here to take part, we’re here to win it.
“This fight’s a dream come true but the job’s not done. Hopefully, I can accomplish that. It means everything to me. It’s took over my life since I’ve been 10 years old so I’m just glad I’m finally here now. I’ve got my chance that I’ve worked for.”
Glackin has come up the hard way, fighting on small-hall shows across Scotland, with the occasional big stage outing such as his Hydro appearance in 2022. The Scottish and Celtic belts are already in his collection, but the British title represents a major step up – one he knows he must seize.
“If I can’t be British champion now, I’m never going to be. I think that’s being realistic myself.”
That same realism shapes how Glackin views his future.
“I’m not going to be this 35-year-old that’s thinking about just being an opponent for people. For me I’ve got a life after boxing. I don’t need to take punishment, I don’t need to diet or restrict myself with food. I love training so I’ll always be high into that, but that’s just the way I’ve always been. It’s not a sudden thing thinking about what could go wrong – I’m a positive person. It’s just being realistic.
“I don’t think enough boxers are realistic with themselves enough. I think a lot of boxers will always have that one more fight. The dangers are spoken about, that one extra one can be your downfall. I’ve just always been that way. There’s going to be a life after boxing as well, but I’ll know when I need it.”
That competitive edge drives him in the gym. He admits even a bad training session can eat away at him on the drive home, but it’s also part of what has propelled him to 16 straight wins.
“If I have a bad session in the gym it gets me down. When I’m driving home there’s no music on,” he laughs. “I just always try and be the best Regan Glackin.”
On Saturday, he’ll also enjoy the lift of a partisan Scottish crowd. A strong undercard featuring Aston Brown, Reese Lynch, Drew Limond, Alex Arthur Jr and Marcus Sutherland ensures a big turnout, with Glackin and Collins at the forefront of a showcase night for Scottish boxing.
Still, Glackin insists the atmosphere cannot do the fighting for him.
“As an amateur you’re used to fighting as the away fighter on home shows. You go into your own zone in the ring. I’ve got a good support and that helps, of course, but it’s only me and Louie O’Doherty. The x-amount of fans that I’ve sold tickets to can’t into the ring and fight for me. They can raise the atmosphere and that can get you going when the going gets tough, but I can only really rely on myself.
“Every fighter will tell you when you go into that ring you can hear all this noise but you have tunnel vision because it’s you and your opponent. I don’t play into that too much. I’ve been the away fighter as a young kid and I’ve learned. Having it at home has lined up good for me in front of my home people but they can’t go in and fight for me.”
Glackin is an honest portrayal of a British fighter on the brink of a career-defining night. Twice he refers to the “job” still needing to be done, a sign of his grounded approach. No arrogance, no false narrative – just belief that more can be unlocked, starting with victory over O’Doherty.
“I put in the work as I always do, so no matter what happens, I’m going in there as the best Regan Glackin. I’m going to do the best I can do, I believe that will get me the win, but time will tell. That’s the beauty of it.”
