ADD Neil McCubbin’s name to the list of those who have seen a potentially life-changing moment temporarily evaporate as a result of the pandemic.
The boxer from Drongan in Ayrshire was days away from the biggest fight of his career – a crack at the Commonwealth title – when lockdown was imposed in March.
It would have been the flyweight’s first professional fight outside of Scotland and a chance to thoroughly test himself against another undefeated rising star in the shape of Sheffield’s Kyle Yousaf.Circumstances meant that bout had to be shelved but McCubbin, part of the Kynoch Boxing stable, believes the opportunity will roll around again.
“I was a wee bit gutted when my last fight was called off,” he admits. “The timing couldn’t have been worse for me as it was the weekend that lockdown came into place. It felt like a fight camp that had gone to waste.
“That was shaping up to be the biggest fight of my career so it was really disappointing when it was called off. It was away from home in Barnsley so all the odds would have been against me but I was preparing to head down there and do a number on him. I just wanted to get that Commonwealth title.
“It’s fallen through for now but my manager Sam Kynoch is confident that when boxing is back on its feet again that fight will still be there. I’m hoping it will come around sooner rather than later.”
Still just 21 years-old, there will be further opportunities for the 5-0 fighter to move up the rankings, especially in a division where careers tend to advance a lot quicker than at some of the heavier weights.
McCubbin is currently ranked 10th in the UK in the 8st (112lb) category and has tapped into the experiences of former stablemate Ross Murray about how best to plot a path through that division.
“Ross is a good friend of mine and he’s giving me lots of advice,” he added. “He’s been in with Jay Harris and Sunny Edwards so it’s been good speaking with him. There’s not a lot of difference in terms of weight between light-fly (108lb), fly and super-fly (115lb) but he was telling me how you notice a huge difference in size by the time you fight. It’s quite significant. Ross was a natural light-fly and fought Sunny at super-fly and said Sunny was massive by the time they got into the ring.
“Just now I’m making flyweight comfortably. Maybe in the next couple of years I’ll look to move up the divisions but we’ll see how things go first at flyweight. I’m still early in my career with just five pro fights so it’s just waiting to see what opportunities come my way.
“Right now I want to win the British title. That’s my main focus – to get my hands on the Lonsdale Belt.”
McCubbin expects to be back in the ring by October, either on a potential Kynoch card at Trump Turnberry – government legislation permitting – or in a rematch with Yousaf. I’ve spoken to Sam a few times and he’s been keeping me updated about a potential return. It’s probably looking like October but I’m willing to wait and see how things go.
“The Yousaf fight is back on the table again, too. It’s just a matter of waiting. I’ve managed to stay motivated by only looking at the bigger picture.
“A lot of people have setbacks and then lose the motivation to keep training or fighting but I’m still as hungry as ever.
“My focus is on the big fights ahead. I’m still young, so although this has been a frustrating spell, there’s plenty of time yet for me. You just have to be ready whenever the phone rings.”
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