Kincaidston hitman Calvin McCord has revealed that he is eyeing up another title shot before the year is out.
The 26-year-old made a winning return to the ring in March, when he stopped powerful Brazilian Adauto Silva Dos Santos in the third round at the Marriott Hotel in Glasgow.
It was the Scottish Lightweight Champion’s first foray since his bitterly disappointing fourth round stoppage against Sam Noakes, of Kent, back in November.
On that occasion the contest with Noakes, at the O2 in London, was for the vacant Commonwealth Lightweight title.
As it turned out, though, Noakes emerged the victor, inflicting the first defeat on McCord’s otherwise unblemished career.
However, McCord and his team at the Doon Valley Fitness Gym in Dalmellington’s Main Street, have sat down and reviewed everything since that night and made a few tweaks to ensure that the defeat doesn’t derail him going forward.
Download the Ayrshire Live app today
The Ayrshire Live app is available to download now.
Get all the local news in your area – plus features, football news and the latest on the coronavirus crisis – at your fingertips 24/7.
The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories while you can customise your page with the sections that matter to you.
The Ayrshire Live app is available to download now on iOS and Android.
And those changes seemed to have worked a treat as Calvin sent Dos Santos spinning in their recent contest to make it a winning return and extend his record to 13-1.
Calvin reflected and said: “That was my first bout since the one in London. It was a solid performance in what was a tough fight.
“Even though it was only three rounds it could have been a very difficult fight because Dos Santos was strong, powerful and came into it with a good record.
“But it was one of those ones where you take it, or you give it.
“Was it good to be back winning? 100 per cent.”
Calvin, a former pupil at Belmont Academy, told how he and his team have adopted a more studied approach in the wake of the defeat to Noakes and so far it’s paying off.
He revealed: “The Sam Noakes fight was a big platform for me. It was live on BT Sport and it’s now at the back of my mind.
“But I have learned a lot from it, definitely.
“The weight cut didn’t go to plan, it didn’t suit me, so now I am concentrating more on the nutritional side to make sure I get it right.
“There’s more weight checks and maybe I was training more like a runner instead of a boxer. So all these things are being looked at to see where improvements can be made. We have altered things now and I feel great, massively.
“You never stop learning in this game and it’s been a learning curve for me.
“Not many people go through their entire boxing career undefeated. I think there’s only been three world class fighters to have done so. Losing the unbeaten record means nothing – as long as you learn from it.”
Calvin is expected to return to the ring next month when he’ll top the bill on a night of pro-boxing at the Lagoon Centre in Paisley.
And the Renfrewshire venue holds happy memories for the Ayr scrapper – it’s where he made his pro debut, beating Kristian Laight to get his boxing career off to a flyer.
Calvin said: “It’s not announced yet but I’ll be out on June 24 at the Paisley Lagoon. It’s a good show to be on. I could be headlining it.
“It’s a good hunting ground as I have fought there twice. I made my debut there. And I just want to be back and doing what I do best.”
Come December time the ambitious Ayrshire boxer is determined to have extended his winning record to 16 – and be staring at a title shot, whether it be a British or Celtic one.
And he’s not ruled out meeting Englishman Noakes again in a bid to avenge his November disappointment.
Calvin said: “I think my management team are talking about another three contests between September and December – and I want another title shot before the end of the year, maybe the British or Celtic title.
“I lived for that unbeaten record and I don’t want that happening again.
“But if the Noakes fight came about I would take it.
“If it came around again, I’d do some things differently. I have learned things and if that opportunity came up again, I would go for it.”
He added: “By December, I have got to be sitting with 16 wins – and a belt round my waist.
“But in order to do that I have to keep winning and be successful.”
Read next:
Don't miss the latest Ayrshire headlines –sign up to our free daily newsletter here
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pa3IpbCrnZOkv6V6wqhlrqNflsazv8eiqZ5nka6%2FtLTIq5xmmp%2BtsrN5wpqjr6GeYrqkr86rm2arlanAbn6YcW5pbWFm