INTERVIEW: Morecambe boxer Reece MacMillan looking to make history in British title challenge

Morecambe pro boxer Reece MacMillan is ready to write his name in the history books by becoming British champion.

MacMillan will challenge Jack Rafferty for the British, Commonwealth and WBC International super lightweight championship this Saturday in Manchester.

The high profile fight takes place at the new Co-Op Live, the largest indoor arena in Europe with a capacity of more than 20,000.

Reece's fans from Morecambe are set to take over the building, hoping to cheer him on to victory against the unbeaten champion.

If MacMIllan wins, he will become the first boxer born in the Lancaster and Morecambe District to capture a British professional title.

Tyson Fury, born in Manchester and who lives in Morecambe, became British heavyweight champion in 2011 and again in 2014.

But fighters who are originally from our local area have come agonisingly close, but never quite won the famous Lonsdale belt.

Isaac Lowe from Morecambe battled to a draw for the British featherweight title with Ryan Walsh in 2018.

Prior to that, 'The Lancaster Lion' Alan Lamb fought Clinton McKenzie for the British light welterweight title in 1983, losing a 12-round decision.

The weight of history doesn't seem to bother Reece, who has taken it all his stride as he prepared diligently for his chance on the big stage.

LISTEN to Reece MacMillan talking about his big fight on Saturday.

MacMillan, 29, now has a professional record of 17 wins from 18 fights, following his dramatic win over Kane Gardner to capture the Central Area Title in November.

Read more: Morecambe boxer Reece MacMillan wins Central Area Title - Beyond Radio

Reece put on a career best performance to decision 'Sugar' Kane  by a single point in a tremendous scrap over 10 rounds at the Devere Whites Hotel at the Toughsheet Stadium in Bolton.

"It was a bit of childhood dream," he said.

"We've not had a chance to celebrate massively as we're on to this one now.

"I love getting involved in a fight. We took it round by round and put on a good fight as always.

"It fuelled me up, being overlooked, so I thought I'd get stuck into him and upset him, and we did it on the night."

Now MacMillan moves immediately on to fight the unbeaten Rafferty, who has 24 consecutive wins, 15 inside the distance.

"I'm going to achieve a childhood dream, it can't get much bigger than this for us," said Reece, who boxed for Lancaster Boys Club and Skerton ABC as an amateur.

"I've worked hard since I was 10 years old.

"There's going to be a massive army of fans from Morecambe, they're going to take over Manchester I think!

"It's everything. It's what I started boxing for. This is my big fight now and I'm going to go in there and give it everything against a great champion.

"Hopefully we will give him his first defeat on Saturday."

Bob Howard, Reece's trainer, said: "I'm very positive for Saturday.

"This is Reece's first 12 round fight. 

"Isaac won the Commonwealth Title but I don't recall seeing in the history books a British champion born in Morecambe or Lancaster.

"We're looking to put Reece's name in the history books.

Pictured below, Reece and Bob training in 2022.

"He has got so much resilence, he's tough, he's dedicated, diligent and done whatever he's needed to do. He'll box anybody, he's not bothered.

"I think Saturday night, I'm very confident that we come away with a win. We know what Jack Rafferty is about. He's a good fighter. I think Reece is a better fighter."

Walter Fury from Lancaster, also in Bob's stable, will box his third professional fight on the same bill.

The card will be shown on TNT Sports with an international heavyweight contest between Britain's Dereck Chisora and Sweden's Otto Wallin in the main event.

LISTEN to the full interview with Reece MacMillan, Walter Fury and trainer Bob Howard on Beyond Radio this weekend.

Read more: INTERVIEW: Lancaster boxer Walter Fury fighting for family pride at UK's biggest indoor arena - Beyond Radio