MCEWAN ARRIVES EARLY IN MEXICO AND VOWS TO MAKE IT HOT FOR CHOCOLATE
Scottish middleweight Craig McEwan flew into Mexico City from Edinburgh this morning two weeks ahead of his 5th of November HBO televised showdown in Cancun with Brooklyn’s Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin. McEwan has agreed to spar with Mexico’s Alfredo Angulo who fights James Kirkland in the WBO light middleweight eliminator which tops the bill.
The Scot, who was ahead in his last fight in March against Irish contender Andy Lee when dramatically stopped in the final round, arrived with his new coach Gary Young and talked about his opponent Quillin.
“Peter now trains out of the Wildcard Gym in Hollywood where I spent the first five years of my pro career. I sometimes sparred with him when he first arrived but I only remember that he was heavy-handed and that he spent a lot of time on the back foot. Some of my old friends in the Wildcard have been calling me saying I’ll beat him and pointing out his weaknesses but I’ve seen his fights on line and he’s pretty good. I’ve already worked out my strategy and I hope to use the sparring with Alfredo to work on that. I’ve a good feeling about this fight. Its going to be fast and furious!”
He is delighted to be working with Young whom he fought as an amateur and who was his teammate in the Scotland international squad.
“Gary has really impressed me as a coach in the few weeks we’ve been working together. He combines his years of ring experience with a lot of academic stuff. He covers every aspect of preparation; strength, fitness, strategy, the lot.”
McEwan says he is particularly looking forward to the high altitude training camp in Mexico City. “Not only is Angulo there but I hear Marquez is there too preparing for his 12th November fight with Manny Pacquiao in Vegas. There’s a real magic about a Mexican training camp and I’m sure I’ll soon get into the spirit of it, especially as its in Mexico City itself with the likes of Marquez and Angulo there!” And he adds with a laugh “After weeks of early morning runs in cold, rainy Edinburgh even this dour, peely-wally Scotsman has got to be inspired that!”
