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Meet the British title challenger who has dreams of boxing at Celtic Park
Undefeated Scotsman Regan Glackin is hoping the upcoming British lightweight title fight with Louie O’Doherty on Saturday night will be a springboard for bigger things.
The pair meet on the undercard of the European featherweight championship clash between Nathaniel Collins and Cristobal Lorente, live on DAZN, and it is an event which could have real consequences for big time boxing in Scotland.
Following Josh Taylor’s shock retirement, Scottish boxing is looking for its next batch of talent to spearhead the sport and conquer the world, and Saturday’s card could be the start of a new era.
Glackin’s meeting with O’Doherty for the British title could steal the show with the belt providing the opportunities to challenge for major honours further down the line.
One word that Glackin has frequently used in the build-up is ‘breakthrough’ and at 16-0, he is now ready to push on and continue what has been a successful boxing journey so far.
“I believe this is a breakthrough show that I’ve earned. I’ve done everything right in my career which has led me to this point. Some look at it as added pressure, everything for me has been prepared for this,” Glackin told DAZN News in an exclusive interview.
“I’m ready to go and give it a breakout performance.
“Getting this British title and hopefully landing a deal with Queensberry and DAZN would be lifechanging.”
For Glackin, boxing has been a part of his life since he was 10 years old. However, it’s only recently that he made the decision to leave his full-time job to fully dedicate himself to the sweet science.
To some, that may look like a foolish decision, parting ways with a stable income to fully engross in a sport which is cutthroat and only benefits a select few who keep on adding to the win column with shiny belts around their waist.
- Read next | Road to Glasgow: How have Nathaniel Collins and Cristobal Lorente reached featherweight dance?
When asked about why he made the decision to put his full-time job in the rearview mirror, it was simple for Glackin, he sees boxing as the avenue to fulfil his potential in life.
“When I started boxing as a kid, I always had this desire that it would lead to more. It’s hard to have a conversation with people who don’t aspire to be great.
“For me, I’ve always had this calling to make something of myself, for me that came with boxing. I do believe hard work pays off in all walks of life.
“I’m not going to let this past me, I’ve worked too hard, everybody sacrifices something to get in that ring.
“I’ve sacrificed a lot, and I plan to keep on sacrificing.”
This sense of fulfilment can also be seen in how Glackin views his unbeaten record. In boxing the ‘0’ in the losses column is sacred with some hellbent on preserving it. On the one hand, it’s understandable, but on the other, it has a detrimental effect on the sport in general, especially when it comes to making the big fights fans want to see.
“Let’s be honest, I’m no Floyd Mayweather, the chances of me retiring with that zero are a lot slimmer than his. I don’t want to be 30, or 40-0 and people think ‘Who is Regan Glackin?’,” Glackin responded when asked about the importance of his unbeaten record.
“I want to be remembered for being in good fights, it’s a fan friendly sport.
“I’m 16-0 and Louie is 10-0, but for me that means nothing unless you test yourself, so I believe this is going to be a big test.”
A win for Glackin could open the doors to two historical feats for a Scottish fighter. One being the chance to bring a major fight to Celtic Park, the home of Glackin’s Celtic FC.
It has become a worn-out cliché that fighters should not look too far ahead, but for Glackin, fighting at the home of the Scottish football giants is a real possibility and something he can build towards with a win against O’Doherty.
“There’s never been a fight I don’t believe at Celtic Park, step-by-step, if you keep winning fights, my platform gets bigger, my fanbase gets bigger, this stuff is viable.
“With the platform Frank Warren, Queensberry and DAZN can give me as a fighter, it can lead to big things.
“Although you don’t look too far ahead, this stuff is achievable.”
Delving into the annals of boxing history, Celtic Park has not staged a major boxing bout since May 18, 1949, when England’s Billy Thompson defended his European and British lightweight titles against Scotland’s Harry Hughes.
But it’s not just ending a boxing drought at Celtic Park where Glackin would make history, there is also the prospect of joining a very exclusive club if he becomes British champion against O’Doherty.
Despite the rich boxing history Scotland possesses, there have only been six fighters from the country who have become British champion at lightweight. Among those is the legendary Ken Buchanan who went on to be an undisputed champion at 135lbs.
To the casual eye, becoming just the seventh Scot to have the British would surely add more pressure to what already feels like a ‘make or break’ moment in Glackin’s career.
Instead, the chance to make history is one that is being embraced by the 27-year-old.
“I don’t look at that as added pressure, I see it as a blessing that I can re-write history,” Glackin began before ending with a simple message ahead of Saturday’s date with Scottish boxing history.
“I don’t want to be known as a ‘can be’, I want to be number seven.”
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