Ben McGivern feared the pandemic had ended his professional boxing dream but he will finally make his debut next month at the age of 33.
The Coatbridge fighter was scheduled to make his debut last March but the show at Crown Plaza was cancelled just days before to the frustration of McGivern.
McGivern has battled adversity in his career before but he’s been handed the opportunity he’s dreamed about by promoter Sam Kynoch.
McGivern will open the landmark ‘Rise of the Champions’ event at Hamilton Accies’ stadium on Saturday, July 31 and the veteran boxer has waited his whole life for this moment.
He said: “I’ve been reminiscing recently because this is something that I’ve wanted to happen since I was five years old.
“To finally get the chance to make my debut under the spotlight on a big show is really special. It’s a big venue and it’s a televised fight.
"It’s an honour to open the show because if you ask any boxer, they’ll tell you that they want to start or close the show.
“I’ve been chasing this moment my whole life and it looked like I’d never get his opportunity. I’m absolutely buzzing to show what I can do.
“It’s tremendous and I couldn’t have wished for a better start to my professional career. I want to make everybody proud of me.”
McGivern, who sparred with fellow Coatbridge boxer Ricky Burns as an amateur, dropped from 15 and a half stone to 12 stone before his cancelled fight last March.
He has maintained that weight ahead of next month’s fight at New Douglas Park and he insists that he’s in the best condition of his career.
McGivern added: “My weight is bang on the money and it’s a result of putting in so much hard work and training.
“Everything is going really well. I’m putting in the hours in the gym and the only thing left in my preparation is my medical.
"I’ve got that on Wednesday [last week] but I don’t anticipate any problems with that because I’ve done everything correctly.”
McGivern’s opponent will be renowned journeyman boxer Lewis Van Poetsch. The 30-year-old fighter, known as ‘Poochi’, is an experienced campaigner with 137 bouts to his name.
Despite a record of only nine wins and 126 defeats, McGivern is expecting a tough fight and he vowed not to disrespect his opponent.
He said: “He fought my good pal Paddy Pollok not too long ago and it went to points. He’s been in and about some good names in his career so I won’t take anything for granted.”
Follow Lanarkshire Live Sport on Twitter via @LanLiveSport, like us on Facebook or find us on Instagram for the latest sports news, pictures and video
