Joe McGrail is relishing the prospect of fighting in front of a home crowd this weekend after successive bouts on the road.
A European Junior silver medalist in 2018, McGrail fights as part of a packed Probellum bill at the Eventim Olympia this Saturday. Headlining the show will be older brother, Peter, while Jazza Dickens also fights the hard-hitting South African Lerato Dlamini for the vacant IBO world featherweight title.
McGrail, a product of the famous Everton Red Triangle gym, made a statement on his paid debut, stopping Fran Rodriguez in the second round, while his most recent victory came back in July against Alexandru Ionita at the Stadium of Light. And speaking on the ECHO’s Royal Blue podcast, McGrail admitted there is nothing better than fighting in front of a home crowd.
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He said: “There is nothing better. My last two fights have been on the road, one in Barnsley and one last minute in Sunderland. I haven’t really been able to get many people to them.
"To be fighting back in Liverpool, everyone I know, and people I don’t, will be coming to watch. The support will be on another level and they are good nights.”
McGrail was being primed for the highest level of the amateur code but after over 60 bouts, he opted to turn pro and has since fought five times.
“I like it better than the amateurs. Obviously, no headguards, smaller gloves and it feels nicer when you land punches. Not nice taking them, though,” he said when asked about the transition.
“I’m just taking it fight by fight as I’m only 19 and I’m in no rush. I’m just gradually stepping it up, not as much as him [older brother Peter] and still learning in every fight.”
Before he added: “My first couple of fights, I think the level of opposition was lower [than what I previously faced] because in the amateurs every fight is a 50/50 fight once you get to a certain level.
“They are evenly matched fights and then turning professional your first few fights are learning fights to adapt to being a professional.
“The level of opposition is probably lower. That’s the only difference, everything else is just the same really. A fight is a fight.”
Tickets for Saturday's show have already sold out, although fight fans will be able to watch the action for free on probellum.com.
And although McGrail believes there is nothing better than a Liverpool fight night, he also can’t wait for when he heads to fight an opponent in their own backyard.
“To be honest, though, I can’t wait to do that,” he replied when asked about fighting away from home in a hostile environment.
“I can’t wait to go to someone else's city and fight them and get booed in. It is just something I have always wanted to do and it just gets me going.”
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