Lee McGregor insists he is going nowhere after Doncaster downer

The 29-year-old was stopped in the sixth round of his WBA Intercontinental lightweight duel by Michael Gomez Jnr last Saturday night - just hours after boyhood heroes Hearts missed out on Premiership title glory.

Boxer Lee McGregor believes he has more to give to the sport

The Capital fighter admits he took a gamble moving up from super featherweight to face Gomez Jnr at Doncaster Rovers' Eco-Power Stadium, a punt, he insists, was worth taking, but ultimately didn't pay off.

Last weekend's setback in South Yorkshire was McGregor's third loss of his professional career, defeats to compatriot Nathaniel Collins 12 months ago, and Erik Robles, at Meadowbank, in July 2023, further stains on his record.

However, with 16 wins to his name, the former Commonwealth, British, and European bantamweight champion, insists he is desperate to add to that tally.

"I am gutted," McGregor told the Evening News. "But this feels completely different to when I lost to Nathaniel Collins. I had a terrible night, my career felt like it was basically over, whereas I don't feel that way at all. It didn't work out, but it wasn't through a lack of trying. I just need to take it on the chin.

"Lightweight is not for me, and I think people close to me maybe knew that, but they know what I'm about. I never shirk a challenge. But it proved to be a step too far.

"I knew after the first 30 seconds he was just too big. I'm not going to hide away from that, but hit it head on. I gave it a good go, and if you watch the fight back, my output was good, but it wasn't really having much of an effect on him as it would have if it had been a super featherweight.

"When we were at the weigh-in and doing the head-to-head, I didn't think there was too much in it, but then fight night it was totally different. He was like a different guy,

"I was still throwing shots up until the towel came in. I wanted to ride the storm. I've looked back at the punch stats and after three rounds it was like 75-15 in my favour, but it was just having little impact. I came out like a train.

"But I'm not calling it quits. If I'd gone out there and had been obliterated, my timing was way off, then I'd have a decision to make. But it was the complete opposite. It was down to his size, pure and simple, and to be fair he (Gomez Jnr) said that in the build up, that there's weight classes for a reason, and I laughed it off. It turned out to be true. He's not a better fighter than me. Everything just kind of went against me."

McGregor's disappointment in the ring was exacerbated by Hearts defeat to Celtic in Glasgow, a match he was glued to before heading into battle himself.

"I watched the game and when it got to 75 minutes or so and with the score at 1-1, I started to feel the pressure," he said. "When Celtic got their second, I was absolutely devastated. It was a horrible weekend for both myself and Hearts, but we go again.

"I also only had four or five weeks working with Billy (Nelson) as well, which wasn't ideal. But I feel in a good place, I've got a good team around me so I'm not going to let this break me. I don't have anything in the pipeline yet, but I think my stock has risen even though I got beat. I just need a decent opportunity at my normal weight.

"It's about having a wee break, let my body recover, and then we get back at the proper weight and we give it a good go."