ECHO exclusive as Connor O'Neill chats to Peter McGrail ahead of his fight with Ionut Baluta
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Peter McGrail
Peter McGrail
Peter McGrail believes he is only three fights away from challenging for a world title as he prepares to face Ionut Baluta this weekend. McGrail takes on the experienced Romania at the Resorts World Arena in Birmingham on Saturday night.
On previous trips to the UK, Baluta has boxed Michael Conlan, twice fought Dennis McCann, Brad Foster, Liam Davies, Brad Strand and Andrew Cain. And McGrail, who beat Rhys Edwards on points last time out, knows he is in for a tough fight but believes a win on Saturday night will move him one step closer to a shot at a world title.
“Saturday will be a tough fight, but I want to keep winning and pushing towards world titles,” he told the ECHO.
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“I am number six in the WBA at the minute, and I am defending the WBA International belt.
“I am expecting to go up a few places and possibly move to within three fights of a world title. I want to keep pushing towards world titles.”
McGrail admits his appetite to become a world champion has only increased after watching gym-mate Nick Ball win and then defend his WBA featherweight title.
“I am seeing it first-hand with Nick in the gym every day,” he said. “We were there when he won it in Saudi, and I train with him every day, so it is there in the flesh.
“Not just me though, Andrew Cain, Brad and our Joe; we are all out to follow him.”
Lifelong Blue McGrail has long admitted that he wants to follow in the footsteps of Tony Bellew and fight at the home of the club he loves.
And he admits that dream has moved one step closer with the Blues having officially left Goodison Park and moved to the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
“100 percent, that is one of my goals to fight for a world title at Bramley-Moore Dock,” the Everton Red Triangle fighter said.
“Now the club have made the move, I want to bring a big night to Liverpool. It is definitely a goal for the future.”
McGrail was in attendance the night Bellew knocked out Ilunga Makabu at Goodison, and he admits: “It is nights like that when you are there that give me motivation. He’s done it, and you know it is possible.”