The rehabilitation of Macaulay McGowan continues.
Last weekend, McGowan (19-4-2, 5 KO’s) forced Vasif Mamedov’s corner to throw in the towel in the sixth round. The result won’t make any headlines by itself but it was another step on McGowan’s path back to title contention.
McGowan turned professional in 2014 and remained unbeaten through his first 15 fights before losing his unbeaten record to the excellent Kazakh, Tursynbay Kulakhmet, in November 2020. McGowan lost to Kieron Conway the following month and then – after a year out – ventured to Madrid where he dropped a decision to modern middleweight great, Sergio Martinez. After that, he took a breath, regrouped, and reset his sights.
“The win was the win. I was expected to beat the lad. I don’t think I was expected to stop him though. It was good to get him out of there. It’s the first time I’ve ever had back to back stoppages so I feel good. I’ve started hitting the bag like George Foreman now,” McGowan told BoxingScene.com.
“I want to start heading towards the British title. I weighed 10st 12lbs (152lbs) for this fight which is the first time I’ve done that for a few years so I’ve made the super welterweight limit now. I’ll look to get opportunities and push towards the British title or even the English. I’d even box for the Central Area. I just want to win titles.”
McGowan trains under Joe Gallagher at Champs Camp in Manchester and has fully bought into Gallagher’s philosophy of fighting regularly and taking every possible opportunity to put the techniques he is working on in the gym into practice. The victory over Mamedov was his fifth fight and third victory of 2023. Apart from the wins, he was very unfortunate to come away with a draw after appearing to outbox the unbeaten Farrhad Saad in France and then lost a split decision to Tyler Denny who has moved straight into a European middleweight title shot. McGowan, 28, is enjoying his boxing again and believes that every moment he spends in the ring can only help him fulfil his potential.
“I’m not waiting around for anything. If I get an opportunity on a big show, I get one. If I don’t, I’m not arsed. I’m in the gym anyway and the cream rises to the top,” McGowan said. “If you keep winning, you’ll get your shot. I want to make my way into those positions by being a good fighter and not just because I was ready to take it on late notice. I feel like I’m building myself into being a good fighter. I’m improving. I’m not just taking fights, battering people and then getting beaten on big shows. I’m getting better and progressing.
“I’m still me but I just feel like I’ve built on top of what I had and got rid of a few things i shouldn’t do. My mindset and my decision making is a lot better.”
McGowan is prepared to be patient but if a title opportunity presents itself he would jump at it, safe in the knowledge that he has put in the groundwork to make the most of it.
“At super welter, definitely. Although I’d even love to fight for the English middleweight title, Brad Pauls has got that. The English super welterweight is wide open. Sam Gilley won the Commonwealth title the other day against Louis Greene and I think there are good opportunities out there if I keep my head down.”