Williams Lake boxer Stuart McLellan already holds two Canadian titles — now he’s ready to test the waters at a lighter weight class.
The Eastern Canadian champion and the NBA Maritime Title holder at middleweight, McLellan, 27, said for a while now he’s been trying to get fights at welterweight (147 pounds) — his natural weight class.
Next Thursday, June 26, at the Deerfoot Inn and Casino, McLellan will take on Port Coquitlam’s Steve Conkin, 35, who holds a four-win, eight-loss and one-draw record.
McLellan will enter the fight with a professional record of 10 wins, no losses and three draws.
“In my last five fights all of my opponents have been 20, 25 pounds heavier [than me] so it’ll be nice to fight at my own weight,” McLellan said. “This is kind of a test at this weight.”
McLellan added it’s been a bit of an adjustment to get used to fighting at the new weight.
“It’s little things,” he said. “You can’t keep the guy off you like you used to and punches hurt a little bit more. I’m anxious to see how I feel when fight time comes.”
The bout at the Deerfoot Inn and Casino will be the main event on the fight card. And, McLellan said it’ll be nice to fight a little closer to home, as many of his last matchups have been in Eastern Canada.
“It’s a fun fight for me [being the main event],” he said. “It’ll be nice not to have to hop on a plane and fly across the country.”
In preparation McLellan and his brother, Roberto — also a professional boxer — completed a training camp in Calgary.
“I’ve trained really hard for this one,” he said. “We [Roberto and I] got some good work in there in Calgary with different guys, so I’m really ready to go for this one.”
McLellan also has a NBA Maritime Title defence scheduled for October in Nova Scotia.
Tickets will be available at the door and are also online at www.teofista.com.