Aberdeen’s Darren Traynor is a boxer in a hurry as he steps into the ring tonight for the biggest challenge of his professional career to date.
As an amateur, Traynor became the first British boxer to win the famous Golden Gloves of America tournament and is undefeated in seven professional bouts.
But as he prepares to meet Bulgarian Yordan Vasilev for the vacant International Masters super-featherweight title at the Granite City’s Beach Ballroom, the 27-year-old, nicknamed Trayn-Wreck, admits it is time he lived up to his early promise. He said: “People have been talking for years about my potential and the time has come for me to realise it. I am not getting any younger. I am 27 and there have been too many false starts.
“I am coming into my prime and I need to step up. The fights are only going to get harder from now on and it’s time to really push it. This is the biggest fight of my career and it will be the toughest.
“Vasilev has plenty of experience with more than 40 fights under his belt and it will be the first time I’ve fought in a scheduled 10-rounder.
“It’s massive for me because I want to be competing for major titles. I have my sights set on the Scottish and British titles in the next year to 18 months.
“I know if I am going to get there I need to get a move on.”
Traynor will be the first man to fight for a title in Aberdeen since Aberdeen Assassin Lee McAllister, who last month announced his retirement from the sport.
Traynor, 27, has fought on the undercard of Mc- Allister’s bouts in the past and is eager to show there is a strong conveyor belt of talent coming through in the Granite City.
He added: “Lee has been a big inspiration to me. People have criticised him but you only have to look back at what he achieved in his career.
“Lee won Commonwealth and world titles at different weights and people are only starting to appreciate what he did now he’s gone.
“He put Aberdeen boxing on the map and now it’s time for guys like myself and Matty McAllister to step up to the plate.
“Lee has been a legend in the city but Aberdeen needs some new boxing heroes.”