A Williams Lake boxer has been granted a shot at the Canadian welterweight title.
Stuart McLellan, 28, will square off against 26-year-old Steve Claggett Sept. 18 at the Deerfoot Inn and Casino in his hometown of Calgary, Alta., during Teofista Boxing Series 17 for the belt.
Since turning professional in 2007, McLellan said a chance to fight for a Canadian title is what he’s been working towards.
“I’ve waited for this for a long time,” McLellan said, who has a 12-win, one-loss and three-draw record in his professional career.
“But I’ll have my work cut out for me.”
Claggett turned pro at the age of 19 years old in 2008 and his amassed a 22-win three-loss and one draw record. His last loss came in January of 2015 against Russia’s Konstantin Ponomarev, now the 27th ranked welterweight in the world.
McLellan, who is coming off the first loss in his professional career to Ryan Wagner in March, feels like he has the skillset to stand toe-to-toe with Claggett.
“We’ve been on some of the same cards and I’ve kept an eye on him,” McLellan said.
“He’s got the right style for me but nothing’s going to be easy about it. He’s a really good body puncher and he likes to fight nice and close.
“To beat him would open a lot of doors for me.”
In preparation for the fight McLellan has been running six miles a day, six days a week. He’s also been spending plenty of time in the ring with his brother, fellow pro boxer Roberto McLellan.
“I’m off to Edmonton for the next couple of weeks for a camp,” he said, noting he’ll be training at Avenue Boxing alongside the likes of former mixed martial artist, now professional boxer, Ryan Ford and the no. 3 ranked women’s boxer in the world, Jelena Mrdjenovich.
Tickets for the fight are available online at www.teofista.com.