Jay McFarlane claims he only took up boxing because he was ‘documentary fat’ but now he can’t wait for New York bout with Matt McKinney
Jay McFarlane is looking forward to sinking his teeth into the Big Apple as he prepares to fight on the undercard of Gennady Golovkin vs Danny Jacobs
JAY McFARLANE only took up boxing because he was ‘documentary fat’ - but now he is relishing the chance to sink his teeth into the Big Apple on Saturday night.
St Patrick’s weekend in New York is all about the Irish but the Glasgow heavyweight is flying the flag for Scotland as part of the huge bill at Madison Square Garden topped by Gennady Golovkin’s middleweight title clash with Danny Jacobs.
And it was McFarlane’s tenuous connection to Triple G that handed him the shock chance to hit New York - even though he thought he would only be here as a fan.
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After lighting up Friday's weigh-in by stepping on the scales in a kilt and full Braveheart facepaint he explained: “Me and Golovkin share a sponsor, Rich Energy, so I had a brief meeting with them after he fought Kell Brook in London.
"They said ‘we need to get you over for the next fight in New York’.
“I was absolutely buzzing at that - I thought they meant to come over as a fan and get a couple of tickets.
"So when a week later when they said ‘no no, we meant come over and fight’ it was just insane.”
At 19 years old, McFarlane is the youngest professional heavyweight in Britain and has had just two pro fights following a 16-bout amateur career.
So it is no surprise that he still can’t quite believe he will be sharing the bill with some of the biggest names in the sport in one of boxing’s most iconic venues on Saturday.
He added: “It feels a bit more real now I’m weighed in but It hasn’t felt real at all.
“It’s just amazing really and I’m pinching myself.
“I’ve never even been to America before, I’m not exactly well travelled so to get to come to america to fight is unbelievable really.
“I had 16 amateur fights and a good few unlicensed bouts as well. I’ve had two pro fights in quick succession - December and January - and got two wins, both knockouts.”
It has been a rapid start for the baby-faced Scot - or the ‘fat kid from Glasgow’ as he puts it.
“I took up boxing when I was eight years old,” he said.
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“But It was only an attempt to lose weight and gain a bit of confidence.
“I’m telling you, I was documentary fat. I was 13 stone at eight years old. I was absolutely huge.
“But as soon as I first punched the bag, aye, I fell in love with it. I had my first fight when I was 10 and weighed in at 75kg, which is just under 12 stone.
"I hated amateur boxing really, it's about point scoring and it didn't suit me at all. I defended with my face back then.
"I decided to go the unlicensed route because it would be a good transition from amateur to pro, especially because I was so young."
But McFarlane has quickly learned about the problems of being a heavyweight in Scotland.
“There are only three of us in the whole country,” he said.
“Me, Gary Cornish and Ian Mallarvie, who is based in Hamilton.
“Even so I think it's the first time there has been three heavyweights in Scotland for 50-odd years.
“Getting sparring is brutal, I always have to travel and go back and forth to England.
“So it means I'm learning on the job. The plan after this one is to box eight times this year. That's basically one a month.
“I'm taking fights like sparring sessions – it's the best way to improve. I've got a lot to learn and it's a gradual process.”
You'd be mistaken for thinking that he was in an all-Scottish derby here on Saturday against 3-2-2 opponent Matt McKinney - but the 35-year-old is actually from Oceanside California.
He added: “He’s a big boy, aye. tough guy in great shape. He will come to win so it’s perfect for me. I need someone to come and trade.”
The dream outing will also provide him a link to his all-time favourite fighter, who he has studied thoroughly on Youtube.
“I used to spend my time watching videos of Jack Dempsey,” he said.
“People talk about Mike Tyson or Muhammad Ali but for me it was all about Jack Dempsey. He was like a lumberjack among trees the way he was smaller and chopped people down. He brought boxing to life in the 20s.
“So fighting in Madison Square Garden, where he also boxed is unreal.
“I’m also hoping to get down Jack Dempsey’s Diner and have a good munch before I head home.”
But then it will be back to the diet – and back to reality.
McFarlane fights on the undercard of Golovkin v Jacobs at Madison Square Garden. Watch live and exclusive on BoxNation .