Keith’s opponent pulls out

Muay Thai world champion Keith McLachlan has spoken of his disappointment after his fight in Dublin was cancelled.

The 36-year-old, from Croftfoot, was due to face Salva Guerrero on Saturday, July 11, but the Spaniard withdrew.

Keith was unable to explain the decision:“I have no idea; it was quite disappointing. I’ll move on to the next one, I’m just in training at the minute.”

The well-publicised clash was meant to take place in the Spin Disco Arena under the billing ‘60kg Enfusion Super Fight’.

But the setback will do little to mar what has already been a remarkable year for the McLachlan’s.

On June 20 in Stepps, Keith knocked out two-time world champion Yannis Belacel in the second round to confirm his status as 59kg WBC world title holder.

Incredibly, his son Corey, 13, secured the CCC European title by defeating France’s Chai Rozen on points - on the same night, at the same venue. And Keith reflected: “That was tremendous; very, very special.”

Corey is set to follow in his father’s success-laden footsteps, having claimed over 60 wins from 70 fights. He has won the Scottish Open and the SFMA Scottish Championship three times and the CCC World title once, amongst many other prestigious belts.

And another McLachlan appears to have a bright future in muay thai. Reece, who is eight-years-old, has over 20 wins from 30 fights and has won the Scottish Open three times and the WTKA European Open once.

Keith, a coach at Maryhill’s Griphouse gym, said:“Reece has more of a traditional fighting style than Corey. They train hard, maybe five or six times a week.

“I was taking classes and Corey just joined in - Reece was the same.”

And having a world champion father to turn to for support helps the boys. “It does, yeah,”said Keith. “And it helps the other fighters at the gym. Reece must be the youngest fighter I’ve got; he’s had 30 fights.”