interview with Lee McAllister

alba · Feb 20, 2012

THE Fighting McAllisters of Aberdeen have long been something of a legend in the city by the sea. Two generations of boxers, four brothers in each, have made the McAllister name synonymous with the sport in the Granite City.

The current four boxing brothers European title contender Lee, David, Matthew and Steven have all followed their scrap merchant father David and uncles into the ring with varying degrees of success.
A predilection for fisticuffs suggests that there might have been the odd barney at home, something Matt McAllister quickly denies. We never fought with each other, well not much, he said, but we fought with abody else.
We all get on well and we always support each other. Always.
On Saturday the McAllisters face their biggest night of boxing yet. Welterweight Matt Hawk McAllister will face Lanarkshire-based Maltese fighter Daniel Micallef on the undercard of brother Lees European light-welterweight title contest against Denis Shafikov of Russia.
Its a huge bout for Lee against the champion who won his title against the highly-rated Italian Giuseppe Lauri in Finland last September. It is Shafikovs first defence, and he will be Lees toughest opponent to date, with the fight at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre a sell-out due to the local fans desire to see 29-year-old McAllister crowned king of Europe.
At 23, Matt will be having his third professional contest and is confident of remaining unbeaten. He is no shrinking violet even if he is content to stay in the shadows and let his quick-witted big brother do most of the speaking.
He could talk for Scotland, said Matt, and of course he is an inspiration to me with all hes achieved, as I want to gain the titles he has won, which is why Ive told my manager Tommy Gilmour that I dont want to fight journeymen. But Im better looking than he is. And could you tell the ladies out there I am single at the moment? Job done, Matt.
On the walls of the Granite City Boxing Club where they train are posters and pictures showing the familys ring history, including one of the brothers father David as an eight-year-old starting out on his distinguished amateur career. He and his three brothers were all better than decent amateurs, with James McAllister winning a silver medal at the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh.
Lee, pictured right, has gone much further in his career as a professional, with 34 wins and just two defeats in his career, and the Aberdeen Assassin is raring to go again.
Its the biggest fight of my life and I cant wait for it, said Lee. The whole city is buzzing and getting behind me, and its the biggest sporting event here since Alex Ferguson took Aberdeen to the Cup-Winners Cup in 1983. For a single sportsman, its the biggest event in Aberdeens history.
Once I beat this Russian kid it will be my night, my time to shine, and my time to go forward, because I see it as the start of something big. I am in the prime of my career now and Im looking for bigger things. The European title is a massive step along the way, its the belt I have always wanted, and now I am getting the chance to get that belt by fighting against one of the best fighters in the world.
Shafikov is undefeated, he was a top Russian amateur, hes rated in the top ten by all the governing bodies, so once I beat him well be looking at very big things.
My focus is on him just now. I know I need to do a job on him before I can look at anything in the future, but once I get him out of the road I will sit down with my father and with [manager] Tommy Gilmour and hopefully plan my debut in Las Vegas against Erik Morales that would be nice and Id get a free holiday out of the fight, too.
Humour is a big McAllister quality but those words were spoken only half in jest, and the main ambition of Lee and all the family is to make Aberdeen a boxing city like never before. Lee said: I am the most successful fighter to come out of Aberdeen.
My dad and I have put Aberdeen on the boxing map along with my brother David who is also my coach and cornerman. Its a strong gym my Dad has built up here. Weve got a serious prospect of having lots of pro fighters coming through in time.
Brother Matthew is the best prospect to keep Aberdeen going once my career has come and gone and he knows more at 23 than I did said Lee, who also cited young Darren Traynor as a prospect: They will both be looking for British title fights in future.
On a serious note, Lee knows that if it had not been for boxing, he might have well have gone to the bad.
My father and mother have been a massive influence on my life. If it wasnt for them I would probably be in jail or dead. If I hadnt had the structure, my dad coaching and training me and my mum looking after me, getting my diets right and making sure everything has been right for my fights, I am sure I would have ended up on drugs or worse.
The Fighting McAllisters therefore owe a lot to boxing, but in Aberdeen especially, boxing owes a lot to them.
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http://www.scotsman.com/sport/boxing/interview_matt_and_lee_mcallister_boxers_1_2125848

Never knew about his familys involvement ,looking forward to the fight now on Saturday! all the Best To McAllister,this could open some doors for him and if hes guided right some sort of legititmate world title show!

Lazarus · Feb 20, 2012

I will laugh when he get's beat.

alba · Feb 20, 2012

Lazarus said: ↑

I will laugh when he get's beat.
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why would you laugh ? what specifically hasd mcallister done to annoy you >?

boxing fan · Feb 20, 2012

lee could be very good if he gets his head out his own arse,he was beating murray easily until the 4 round when he ran out of steam,then murray murdered him, try keeeping your mouth shut and let your hands do the talking for a change and maybe you will get somewere

Lazarus · Feb 20, 2012

alba said: ↑

why would you laugh ? what specifically hasd mcallister done to annoy you >?
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He knocked on my door and ran away.

boxingcrazy · Feb 20, 2012

Lazarus said: ↑

He knocked on my door and ran away.
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If he knocked on your door i'm sure it would have been you who ran away!!!

Lazarus · Feb 20, 2012

boxingcrazy said: ↑

If he knocked on your door i'm sure it would have been you who ran away!!!
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Yeah, you're probably right.

This content is protected

alba · Feb 20, 2012

Lazarus said: ↑

Yeah, you're probably right.

This content is protected

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so you dont really dislike him for any reason ? Maybe its cause i posted thread about him ,if it had been you ,you would have been bumming him up .

fatcity · Feb 20, 2012

Nice hair.:-(

WalletInspector · Feb 20, 2012

alba said: ↑

why would you laugh ? what specifically hasd mcallister done to annoy you >?
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3:05

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uoi1rxfivII[/ame]

izmat · Feb 20, 2012

Seems to talk alot of **** and didn't back up his talk against John Murray

alba · Feb 20, 2012

WalletInspector said: ↑

3:05

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uoi1rxfivII
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a fighter gets carried away and talks ****?

not the first time and certainly not the last time it will happen.

HeavyT · Feb 20, 2012

who cares if people dont like him? people dont like a ton of boxers and its certainly not for personal reasons. Does Lee have to beat up your sister before your allowed to thik hes a *****? I like him, been to see him fight a couple times, but I can COMPLETELY understand why people wouldnt like him... hes probably one of the most overprotected fighters I know of, hes managed to pick up two Commonwealth belts without even fighting a decent domestic contender (a few journeyman and a Scottish area champ dont constitute good contenders). His best win is probably over Craig Docherty! Not only that, but his constant big talk thats gone on for years and the gullible press and Aberdonians just lap it up.

dftaylor · Feb 20, 2012

Lazarus said: ↑

I will laugh when he get's beat.
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Your standards have slipped. That is a true apostrocity.

billy nelson · Feb 20, 2012

Good luck to Lee!

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