SCOTTISH light-middleweight boxer Michael McGurk moved his unbeaten record to 12-0 and hoped it would now push him closer to title contention.
In the longest fight of his professional career, the 25 year-old from Uddingston scored a points victory over Lithuanian Evaldas Korsakas at the Emirates Arena on Friday night.
McGurk now hoped his flawless record would help bring him a shot at a title fight later in the year.
He said: “I’ve always said I’m up there but I just want the big fights and I want them now. It’s time. We want to push on this year and get title fights. That’s what we’re in this game for. We’re not in it to fight journeymen as I hate that. I’d rather be fighting lively opponents like that one [on Friday].
“That’s the first time I’ve done eight rounds and won it 79-75. So I felt good afterwards apart from my lip and my hand feeling a little bit sore.”
On the same bill, Kieran Smith put the frustration of a late opponent switch behind him to secure a win over journeyman Jan Balog. The light-middleweight had been looking to defend his WBC International Silver belt only for Adam Harper to pull out in the week of the fight. Balog stepped in as a late replacement, giving Smith the chance to move his unbeaten record to 14-0 after the Czech retired on his stool after the fifth round.
“I’m glad to fight as it keeps me right and keeps me busy,” said Smith. “Obviously I was supposed to fight for my WBC title but that fell through six days ago. Thankfully MTK still managed to get me an opponent, an eight-rounder. That’s the main thing, to keep busy. It’s another win on the record.”
Two-time Commonwealth Games medallist Reece McFadden made sure he went into his wedding yesterday on a high by stopping Stefan Sashev in the fourth round for what was his second professional win.
“The opponent was a bit awkward with his head, and it seemed like he didn’t want to be in there as soon as he felt my power and my body shots because it was clearly bothering him a lot,” he said.
“I’ve got a cut but I thought it was a lot worse than it was, so I can’t complain. I can’t wait to enjoy the honeymoon and then get fast-tracked towards titles.”
On a packed MTK card, there were also wins on the night for Lewis Benson, Iain Butcher, Craig Morgan, Jack Turner, Callen McAuley, Nathaniel McAuley and David Brophy.
Butcher had been meant to fight Scott Allan for the latter’s Celtic bantamweight title but failed to make the weight.
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