Lee McGregor glued to fights of his manager Barry McGuigan

Capital boxer Lee McGregor pictured with his manager Barry McGuigan. Pic: SNS

Cyclone promoter McGuigan fought his 35th and final professional bout in May 1989 – six years prior to McGregor, who has two wins to his name in the bantamweight division, being born.

The reigning Scottish and British amateur champion is preparing for his third pro contest on the undercard of stablemate Josh Taylor’s duel with Mexican Humberto Soto at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow on Saturday, March 3.

And now the Capital fighter is determined to repay the faith McGuigan has shown in him since agreeing professional terms in October.

“I don’t remember Barry fighting as I wasn’t even born,” the 21-year-old quipped. “But I see the respect the man gets and to have him believing in me is brilliant and it gives me great encouragement to win belts and world titles like him. If I can be remembered like him and be as popular as him at his age, I’ll be happy.

“I have watched Barry a lot on YouTube and it’s great what he did and what he’s doing now with us guys. I take inspiration from that. He’s made his money and his name and could just sit back and enjoy life with his family, but he takes time out every day to look after us.

“If I get a British title fight in the summer, my decision to miss the Commonwealth Games and turn pro will be vindicated. When I first signed with Cyclone there was a plan in place and I was more than happy with that, but it’s kind of gone out the window now because I have progressed quicker than they might have thought. They see what I am doing in sparring against bigger and heavier guys and that’s why they are stepping me up.”

Meanwhile, IBO Inter-Continental and Celtic super lightweight champion Jason Easton believes he is finally getting the recognition he deserves.

The 26-year-old former Craigmillar amateur can add a third belt when he goes head-to-head with Glenn Foot for the vacant Commonwealth title at the SSE Hydro in five weeks time.

“I am motoring at a good pace and starting to get the recognition,” he said. “Maybe without Josh being there I would be getting even more, but I like it that way. But I won’t be under the radar if I am British and Commonwealth champion by the summer.”