Training Camp Held in Hollywood
Matthew “Matty” McHale (7-1, 5 KOs) will be fighting Sean Bruce (6-1) on Friday, June 20 at the Caledonia Gladiators Arena in Edinburgh, Scotland. The card is presented by the St. Andrews Sporting Club and the two prizefighters will be squaring off for the vacant Commonwealth Super Flyweight title. The stacked show will air live on Triller TV.
Matty (nicknamed “Trouble”) recently completed a four-week training camp in Hollywood, Calif. He and his trainer Terry McCormack had trained at the famed Wild Card Boxing Club last year so the Team Lochend duo returned for another round of hard work in preparation as the “Gladiators III” main event on June 20. They arrived in May and flew back home to the United Kingdom at the beginning of June.
I first met the Scottish boxer, 29, and his coach at a Jim Lampley book signing event at Wild Card. He and Terry have a mutual friend of mine in Edinburgh’s Craig McEwan, who a few years ago was also brought to Freddie Roach’s Wild Card by Terry. Then the following weekend, I ran into Matty and Terry again at Freddie Roach’s 30th Anniversary Party at Wild Card.
Terry is known for coaching Josh Taylor and taking him from amateur to pro champ. His heralded Lochend Boxing Club (“It Takes Heart”) has produced many great talents through the years and he remains and in-demand boxing trainer. Matty first laced up at age 11 and has been training under the tutelage of McCormack for over 16 years now. The trainer and protégé have a great working relationship and come Friday, Team McHale is aiming to add a new title to his list of accomplishments.
The 115 pounder has previously won many medals, trophies and belts through the years including the Commonwealth Silver Superfly Championship. He fully dedicated himself, giving 100% while in Los Angeles. He is always in the gym and always ready for any challenge. Matty told me he was training six days a week sparring, running, pad work and more.
“This is what I’m here for,” Matty says. “This is my dream.”
The humble young puncher stayed extremely focused in L.A. with his title fight on the horizon. The team didn’t do too much sightseeing while in the City of Angeles but they did take a brief break to attend a couple of live boxing shows including the Championing Mental Health fight night at the Avalon in Hollywood.
I also got to watch a sparring session with them between Matty and John “Scrappy” Ramirez, who will be fighting June 28 on the Jake Paul vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. card. Terry and Ramirez’s trainer Julian Chua watched their young charges from the corner as the two traded punches at the Brickhouse Boxing Club in North Hollywood.
After flying back to Scotland, Matty resumed his regular training at the Lochend ABC and is counting down the days till the matchup.
From the U.S. and back to the U.K., Matty is ready for June 20 at Playsport East Kilbride and is looking to put on a show for the fans. He has won the Commonwealth Bronze medal, captured the Commonwealth Silver belt and come Friday will be gunning for gold–the Commonwealth championship!
Photos by Michele Chong/Poster courtesy of Team McHale