Lee McGregor says there is “simply no way” that he is leaving the Meadowbank Sports Centre without the IBO world super bantamweight title on Friday.
The Scottish fighter makes a return to his home city when he fights Erik Robles for the belt on Friday night and he insists he is fully confident that nothing will stop him from winning the fight.
“Lightning” Lee will go up against the Mexican fighter in the televised bout and will be aiming to come out on top in what he says will be a “life-changing” fight.
And while he fully respects that Robles will be a tough opponent, he says it will take “something special” to stop him leaving the arena with the belt.
He said: “I know I’m going to have a lot of fans and I know the atmosphere is going to be electric and I know will enjoy it, I will look back and say ‘that was unbelievable’ but in the moment I am fully focused, I am zoned in and all of my focus is on winning the fight.
“I’m sure the crowd will help me if times get tough, but I’m not relying on that. I’m going to get in there and fight my heart out and make sure that I am victorious.
“We know what we get from these Mexican fighters, they come and they’ll have a go and I know for a fact he will come and it will be a fight.
“But I’ve got the biggest heart out there, there’s no quit in me whatsoever so it’s going to take someone special to come and beat me on Friday night and I just can’t see it happening.
“No matter what happens, I am preparing myself mentally and physically so well for this that there is simply no way I am losing, I have been through far too much to not come out victorious, there is simply no way that I will accept leaving that ring without the belt.”
McGregor, who was British, Commonwealth and European bantamweight champions, has vowed that he will take the IBO belt back to his daughter.
He said: “It will be an emotional night for me, it really is, it’s given me an extra focus, given me an extra drive and It’s exactly what I need.
“I am doing this for my daughter, I have spent so much time away from her for it and that belt is coming home for her.”
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