Dazzling McCormack looks the real deal; Is it time to take the handbrake off?

It has been four years since Pat McCormack claimed silver at the delayed Tokyo Olympics, losing to Cuba's 2012 gold medallist Roniel Iglesias in a high-quality welterweight final.

While maths has never been my strongest subject, I make it getting on for 1500 days since that date. In that time the talented 30-year-old has only boxed eight times as a professional, with injuries hampering his progress.

On Saturday night in the historic mining town of Houghton-le-Spring, McCormack looked sensational as he claimed a TKO victory over Miguel Parra in a WBA welterweight eliminator.

Parra's 25-5-1 (17) pro log was nothing special going in, but the raw stats can be deceptive.

It was only 14 months since the Hispanic underdog pushed unbeaten Uzbek Shakhram Giyasov to a split decision in America, and he had won three on the spin since.

Parra had good body movement and footwork but too often he was struggling for answers against McCormack, who picked the Mexican apart.

It was a statement performance. People talk about the speed but the Washington welterweight is a really nuanced fighter.

He showed he has a spiteful side too on Saturday and was deducted a point in the sixth for a low blow.

Coaches Ben Davison and Lee Wylie were clearly impressed by their charge, who showed a real engine to almost close the show at the end of the ninth.

Parra wouldn’t come out for the 10th round, and Matchroom CEO Frank Smith teased afterwards that a British title fight with promotional stablemate Conah Walker could be next, but also alluded that he could be boxing for a world title sooner rather than later.

Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing

"McCormack-Walker is a brilliant fight, if we can make it happen, but there are a lot of international names, and Pat's ready for them all," Smith said. "If he's going to win world titles in 12 to 14 months, we'll step him up and deliver."

Those involved in boxing in the North East of England have long since known about McCormack’s ability and potential. He is renowned for his speed, variety and razor-sharp ring IQ.

Injuries and inactivity have meant his pro career has gone slightly under radar – especially given the fact he is an Olympian – but the consensus now is that it’s time to pitch him in elite class.

The WBA welterweight boss is currently Rolando Romero, who was elevated to the full world champion status in August 2025 after Jaron Ennis - the previous Super Champion – officially moved to the 154-pound division.

Sunny Edwards said in commentary for DAZN that he would pick McCormack to beat Romero right now, and when this was put to McCormack in an interview right after the fight Pat smiled and said with typical understatement “Well, Sunny knows his boxing.”

McCormack was brilliant on Saturday night, putting on a show that left everyone in the audience – with the notable exception of Team Parra – wanting to see a lot more of him. Let’s hope he can get out again in 2025 as he is clearly a special talent.

It would be somewhat naive to suggest that modern day sluggers need to be out 25+ times a year as the likes of Harry Greb or Henry Armstrong once were.

However, since turning over Pat has boxed three times in 2022 (his debut year), twice in 2023, once in 2024 and twice so far this year.

Injuries have not helped, but he turned 30 in June and it is definitely now time to take the handbrake off.

For the record Greb's most active year was 1919, when he had an astonishing 45 fights and went undefeated, winning the lot.

Obviously, the sporting landscape in 2025 is unrecognisable from what it was back in 1919. The financial rewards are now greater for a start, and even prospects receive a steady income from sponsorships between fights.

To be honest, if I was given the option of earning more and working less then I'd take that in a heartbeat, so hopefully my editor is reading this.

Seriously though, the legacy of boxing icons such as Flord Mayweather and Canelo Alvarez boxing twice a year is such that most fighters – barring journeymen and trail horses – are fighting less. The leading stars were busier 100 years ago, but it might be concluded their fights lacked the significance of today.

Yet staying active is crucial for any fighter wanting to make the jump from prospect to champion. Steel sharpens steel.

And while sparring, running, skipping rope and strength conditioning all help a boxer stay in shape, there is nothing quite like getting in the ring and throwing hands with someone who is hell bent on switching your lights off.

McCormack has got that great evasive technique where he can make an opponent miss by millimetres and then make them pay.

It is going to be fascinating to see if that style works against the better opposition he will now face, but the evidence looks promising.

Matchroom Boxing

He has also stopped six of his eight professional opponents to date and showed at the weekend that he carries his power late.

Nick Ball is currently the only active male world boxing champion from the UK, but looking at the landscape in the welterweight division if I was a betting man – and I am by the way – I feel McCormack is well placed to join him as a world champion in 2026.

He’s personable, can fight for fun and is guided by the promotional juggernaut that is Matchroom Sport. What’s not to like?

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