Name: Craig McEwan Nationality: Scottish Weight Class: Middleweight Record (At time of Interview): 6-0-0 (5) |
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Topclassboxing.co.uk: You have made an outstanding start to your professional career by racking up six wins without loss; I ask this to a lot of fighters starting off, but what adjustments have you made from your amateur career??? Craig McEwan: Well I definitely train a lot harder!! Ha ha! Amateur boxing is a lot like fencing, you tag your opponent for points. As a pro I have to be a lot more aggressive, plant my feet more and follow through with punches. The amateur points system that they have now is making it more difficult to adapt to pro boxing. I’m still learning. Topclassboxing.co.uk: I know that your father as been a big focal point in your career so far is it him who is your biggest Influence in boxing??? Craig McEwan: He was the one who first laced my gloves and encouraged me to box, so yes. He taught me to dance before he taught me to punch and that has had a huge influence on my style. To this day he still tries to coach me by phone but he knows that I’m in good hands. He realizes that this move to America has been the best education I could possibly get. Topclassboxing.co.uk: Who would you say is the man to beat in your weight class??? Craig McEwan: To be honest I believe that the person you have to beat is the person who is in the ring in front of you. I do not underestimate any of my opponents. Boxing is a funny game; anything can happen in the ring. I take each fight as it comes. I don’t want to try and run before I can walk!! Topclassboxing.co.uk: I know you started boxing at the age of around eleven, which of the fighters of the past or present did you look up to most??? Craig McEwan: I grew up watching videos of Sugar Ray Leonard and Mohammed Ali. Those were my dad’s heroes so I had no choice!! I have since met Sugar Ray and not only is he a fantastic role model in the ring but out of it as well. Topclassboxing.co.uk: Craig your obviously a very talented boxer with a great knockout percentage would you say this is your main attribute (power) or if not what is?? Craig McEwan: First of all, thank you very much. As an amateur I was never known as a power puncher. I had a real stick-and-move style which, of course, was effective for picking up points. I have now learned to sit down on my punches which generates more power. I do, however, think that my main attribute is my fast hand and switch-hitting. I know that there will be harder fights ahead so hopefully this will continue to be effective. Topclassboxing.co.uk: You have been trained by the legendary Freddie Roach how as this been for you and how did it come about??? Craig McEwan: Freddie and I have a mutual friend, Terry McCormack (another boxing coach). Terry had been over to the WildCard gym a few times and would come back and tell me all about it. He recommended that I go over and train for a month which I did in 2005. I loved it. I have been training since I was 7 years old and training at home was getting a bit repetitive. The WildCard was so different and the sparring was brilliant. After the month-long training camp Freddie wanted me to stay and turn professional in the States but I had made a promise to compete for Scotland in the 2006 Commonwealth Games, which I did. I came over here in August and Freddie signed me immediately. He is now my manager and trainer. In retrospect I think I stayed amateur a year too long but things are going well now so I can’t really complain. Topclassboxing.co.uk: Freddie is a great trainer and can mold a fighter into any style but what main things have he added to your training, style etc??? Craig McEwan: The best thing about Freddie is that he does just add to your style. He doesn’t try to change it completely. He has tweaked a few things to help me adapt to the pros but he does work with the style that I have. He’s taught me when to switch effectively, how to use my jab to best advantage, loads of things. Just being in the WildCard gym is an education…watching how the top pros train, getting high quality sparring, getting advice from someone as knowledgeable about the game as Freddie, everything, I couldn’t ask for more at this point in my career. Topclassboxing.co.uk: You have had an amazing amateur career and broke the Scottish record by winning a hat trick of golds at international level I also read that you had an amazing three hundred and seventy-six fights. What in all that time was your proudest moment??? Craig McEwan: I am so patriotic that I was so proud every time I put on a Scotland vest, every time I won a medal for my country. I still try to represent Scotland over here…have the bagpipes playing during my ring entrance, carry the Scotland flag. I’ve still to get Freddie to wear a kilt though!! Topclassboxing.co.uk: I’m from Wales and us Celts (Scotland, Ireland and Wales) are certainly doing well at the moment with Joe (Calzaghe), Enzo (Maccarinelli), Gavin (Rees), John Duddy, Andy Lee, Alex Arthur, Craig Docherty and of course yourself, What can we expect from you in the next year or so??? Craig McEwan: Thanks for thinking of me on a par with these guys. At the moment I’m just taking every fight as it comes. I will have another 6-8 fights in the next year and then start thinking about fighting for titles. As long as I work hard, keep Freddie happy then hopefully I’ll keep racking up the wins. Topclassboxing.co.uk: I always like to ask a professional fighter their predictions on upcoming fights so if the scheduled bouts get completed who in your opinion will win the two following bouts: Floyd Mayweather Jr vs Ricky Hatton Bernard Hopkins Vs Joe Calzaghe Craig McEwan: Floyd Mayweather Jr vs Ricky Hatton
Bernard Hopkins Vs Joe Calzaghe I’ve been lucky enough to be in the ring sparring with Hopkins for the Winky Wright fight and Calzaghe’s a southpaw too so I may be getting more work with the Executioner!! It would great for British Boxing to have Hatton and Calzaghe winning in the US but I’m gonna have to back BHop for this fight. He’s my boss…I have to!!! Topclassboxing.co.uk: On leaving I hope everything is rosy for the career of you (Craig) and long let your fortunes continue Craig McEwan: Thanks for all your support. If anyone’s ever in L.A come and visit the WildCard gym. Everyone’s welcome!! |
