A Williams Lake fighter got his first taste of victory boxing in another country last month.
Stuart McLellan, the Canadian Professional Boxing Council’s super welterweight champion, took his talents to Jamay, Jalisco in Mexico April 30 where he scored a second-round knockout over his opponent, Victor Marquez.
“He came out hard in the first and hit me with some really good shots and I could tell he could punch, but I kind of broke his will after that with a right hook and he didn’t get up after that,” the 29-year-old pugilist said.
“You always want them to go down but they don’t always co-operate. It was kind of nice not to have to go the full distance this time.”
The bout took place in the town’s downtown outdoor plaza where several hundred people crowded the ring, McLellan said.
“It was awesome,” he said.
“People just showed up. It’s a different ball game down there and they love it [boxing]. We were like rock stars.”
With the win McLellan improves his professional record to 14 wins, two losses and three draws.
He earned the CPBC super welterweight title on Feb. 26 in Calgary with a victory over Janks Trotter.
McLellan travelled to Mexico with boxers from Los Angeles, Chicago, Calgary and Manitoba, along with his cornerman, Chris Cousineau, for the fight card, put on by Teofista Boxing’s Eric de Guzman.
“It was a great experience and I’m probably going back down again in August to fight,” he said.
Next, however, McLellan will be fighting on home soil when he takes on Tebor Brosch (7-7-5) of Ontario June 25 for his first title defence.
“His record’s not that stellar but he’s been in there with everybody and he’s gone the distance with Steve Claggett [former CPBC welterweight champion],” McLellan said.
“He’s a tough guy. Kind of a brawler.”
The June 25 bout takes place at the Deerfoot Inn and Casino in Calgary.