New dad Reece MacMillan all set for professional debut

Reece MacMillan however was quite revealed when daughter Dacey couldn’t wait to enter the world on February 10.

Partner Rebecca Bateson’s due date was this Saturday, which just so happens to also be the day former Skerton ABC youngster MacMillan is set to make his professional debut.

Just 20, the Morecambe fighter will take on Ian Henry at welterweight on the MGM Manchester show at Preston’s Guild Hall and can now head into battle confident he will have had a few decent nights’ sleep.

He said: “I was away from training for two days so it was a good job she came that little bit early!

“If it had been too close to the fight there might have been a bit of a problem.

“Especially if there had been some sleepless nights before the fight!

“That’s not going to happen though and her being around though reminds me why I’m getting in the ring.”

Not many fighters enter the paid ranks against an unbeaten opponent but Westgate’s MacMillan will be doing just that.

Maidenhead’s Henry has won his one professional contest to date, a points win over Danny Donchev back in October, but MacMillan is targeting a quick night’s work.

The former Morecambe High School pupil said: “I know he’s from Maidenhead and won his one fight.

“He beat a journeyman though. I’m confident I’ll beat him and hopefully I can get the stoppage.

“I’ll be looking to end the fight early but we’ll just see how it goes on the night.”

Having boxed for England as an amateur MacMillan saw his transition into the professional game delayed for the best part of two years by work commitments as a mechanical fitter out of the area.

After sharing a gym with fellow district professionals Isaac Lowe and Tomi Tatham as an amateur, MacMillan is now signed with Greater Manchester-based trainer and manager Kieran Farrell, a former Central Area champion who had to retire in January 2013 after suffering damage to his brain in a fight with recently crowned world lightweight champion Anthony Crolla.

MacMillan said: “I’ve been with him since the start of November and in that time I’ve lost about a stone and a half and learnt a lot.

“I see him about two or three times a week which is good and while I’m off work at home I’m training twice a day.

“I’m feeling good.”

MacMillan is hoping to have more than 100 people down from the area supporting him in Preston with tickets still available.

For tickets, priced £35 or £55, call Reece on 074699 24248 or Kieran on 079070 56211. MacMillan would like to thank sponsor and employer John Donaghy Groundworks for his support ahead of the fight.