Taylor Swift or title? McGowan set for Baraou bout

Britain's Macaulay McGowan says he was moments distant from buying Taylor Swift tickets earlier he sewage nan telephone to conflict Abass Baraou for nan European light-middleweight title.

McGowan, 29, challenges champion Baraou successful Bolton connected Friday, erstwhile popular prima Swift plays a performance astatine Anfield.

"Fighting for nan European title - winning nan European title - makes a profession of ups and downs worthy it, truthful I’m bringing everything I’ve got," McGowan told BBC Radio Manchester.

"I’m relishing it. When you’re a kid it's what you deliberation of doing. I’m pursuing my dream from erstwhile I was a nine-year-old kid."

German Baraou, 29, hit Britain's Sam Eggington to triumph nan title successful March.

McGowan has won his past 3 fights since losing to Tyler Denny successful May past year, while Baraou is unbeaten successful six.

"I cognize he’s sewage a bully opportunity and he’ll travel pinch everything," Baraou said.

"He seems a beautiful bully feline and has a bully story, but arsenic soon arsenic we participate nan ringing cipher is taking that belt.

"I move connected AB mode and spell crazy, and thing I travel against is pushed retired of nan way."

The victor astatine nan Bolton Whites Hotel will purpose to unit themselves into nan speech for a world title shot.

McGowan, who will beryllium nan underdog against Baraou, said he was a “bored kid” earlier becoming “hooked” connected boxing.

“I was rubbish astatine everything else,” he said.

“I lived successful Benchill; it was beautiful rough. I was arrested astatine 10, 11 years of age.

“I sewage kicked retired nan gym and they said 'Make a decision. Stop moving information pinch those group aliases dedicate yourself.' I dedicated myself.

“This isn’t 1 of them stories wherever I was ever going to beryllium a bad lad and boxing saved me. I was beautiful smart and I knew what I wanted to do.”