Williams Lake’s Stuart McLellan will have his first fight in Canada following a seven-fight win streak spanning over a year.
The 30-year-old pro boxer will face Alvaro Enriquez of Tlaxcala, Mexico.
McLellan’s last six victories took place in Mexico and he’ll be looking to carry that momentum into the bout, which will happen April 1 at the Deerfoot Inn and Casino in Calgary, Alta.
For the fight McLellan, the Canadian Professional Boxing Council 154-pound champion with a 19-win, two-loss and three-draw record, will be moving up two weight classes to fight at 165 pounds.
Enriquez, a seasoned veteran, has a 13-win, 18-loss and two-draw record.
“He’s licensed to fight in Canada and my manager asked if I wanted to take the fight and I just said sure,” McLellan said. “I don’t mind fighting bigger guys because I can use my speed. They’re a little slower and easier to hit, usually.”
Over the years, McLellan has amassed a fanbase in B.C. and Alberta and will have roughly 40 people so far travelling to Calgary to watch the fight.
Enriquez, meanwhile, is no stranger to fighting in Canada as he’s fought eight times in the country spanning back to 2007.
“He’s going to be tough, for sure,” McLellan said. “I expect a rough fight. I don’t look at records or anything like that.”
Should McLellan reach the 20-win mark in his career, he’ll be looking for a televised U.S. TV fight.
“I’m just going to carry on,” he said. “The key is to stay busy until the big fight comes. I’ve got to have discipline this year and stay in shape and wait for the phone to ring, which is fine by me.”
McLellan’s pro career began a decade ago in July of 2007 and he said it’s all been working towards a big pro fight, which he hopes will happen in the next year.
“For years I’ve been laying the groundwork for what’s coming up,” he said.
