European bantamweight champion Lee McGregor wants a world title shot this year or he’s launching an attack on the weight divisions above. McGregor, also the British and Commonwealth bantamweight champion, is “licking his lips” at the thought of challenging WBO title holder Paul Butler but admits if he can’t land that shot in 2022, then he will be forced to move up a weight class. McGregor raced to become European champ in only his 10th fight but now insists there is no time to waste as he eyes becoming a multi-weight title holder.
The 25 year-old says he has the “feel good factor” back in his life after a difficult few months in and out of the ring, which saw his dad, Stuart, left fighting for his life after being hit by a lorry [taxi]. McGregor’s father is now on the road to recovery and after fight cancellations, and shock draw in his last contest, the Edinburgh puncher is ready to give his career a shot in the arm. “It’s no secret that I am big for bantamweight, and it is not easy making 118 poundss,” the unbeaten McGregor said. “I’ve done everything at the weight, winning British, Commonwealth and European titles and so the only fight left for me is a world title. I cannot have an eliminator first because that would only come by the end of the year, at which point, I will be due to move up in weight.”
He continued, “I’ve been licking my lips ever since Paul Butler won the WBO title because it’s a fight that’s easy to make, it makes sense and it’s a big fight in Britain. I don’t want to sound disrespectful, but I would love that fight and would fancy my chances. I have made it clear to my team that it’s either a shot at the world title next, or I move up and make an assault on the super-bantamweight scene and get a title shot there. I know I am a major, major force at bantam and super bantamweight, and I am ready for them all. There may even be opportunities for me up at featherweight. I am going to go up through the weight divisions.”
McGregor signed a co-promotional deal with Probellum and Matchroom in November and had been set to make a defense of his European crown the following month, in Manchester. But, as the Scottish hero explains, he had to scrap the fight after learning about this dad. “Over the course of the build up to a fight I was meant to have in December, a lot happened,” he said. “My dad was in a severe car accident and was in intensive care. I was in Vegas, training, when I heard the news, so I was all over the place. He has just started walking again, it was really bad.”
