McAllister’s return earns title chance

Boxing: Aberdeen Assassin booked for IBF contest at Beach Ballroom

Aberdeen boxer Lee McAllister will fight for an International Boxing Federation belt in the Granite City next month.

The Aberdeen Assassin’s opponent for the contest at the city’s Beach Ballroom on Friday, October 20 has yet to be announced.

McAllister retired from the sport in 2013 but announced his a surprise return to the ring last year and has since won all four of his comeback bouts.

The 34-year-old claimed the World Boxing Federation welterweight world title after stopping Ghana’s Frank Dodzi in the third round in June at the Beach Ballroom.

But the former twoweight Commonwealth champion and WBU champion is bidding for more success next month.

The IBF belt he will fight for is also yet to be confirmed but the Aberdonian believes a victory would take him one step closer to achieving his longer-term aim of setting up a showdown with IBF world welterweight champion Errol Spence jun.

And the lifelong Dons supporter would love to stage the potential title fight at the home of his football club.

McAllister said: “We are still in discussions with the IBF committee chairman Lindsey Tucker and are awaiting confirmation of the opponent and title in the next week.

“Fighting for an IBF title will put me in pole position to face Errol Spence.

“The IBF will be at next month’s fight so hopefully we get a massive turnout at the Beach Ballroom.

“This is testing the waters for the IBF so if there is a tremendous atmosphere we could be looking at a huge title fight, even at Pittodrie. I am urging people to come out in their droves to show exactly what Aberdeen can do.”

McAllister will become the first British fighter affiliated to the British and Irish Boxing Association to contest an IBF title.

He added: “This will be a massive bout for myself and Aberdeen.

“The aim is to be the first fighter other than the ones under the British Boxing Board of Control to compete for a major IBF title.

“I want to make more history.

“Fighting for these titles is exactly why I came out of retirement.”

Aberdeen’s Nathan Beattie will feature on the undercard of McAllister’s title fight next month.

It is shaping up to be a big weekend for Aberdeen boxing with Darren Traynor taking on James Tennyson for the WBA international super featherweight on Saturday, October 21 in Belfast. The fight will be shown live on Sky Sports.

“We could be looking at a huge title fight, even at Pittodrie”