LEE McGregor is “hungrier than ever” as he attempts to achieve his dream of becoming world champion.
The boxer returned to the ring for the first time in nearly 10 months on Saturday when he made short work of Jorge Moya.
McGregor, who missed out on the IBO World Super Bantamweight title in July last year when he lost on points to Erik Robles Ayala, is already targeting at least two more bouts before the end of the year.
He said: “It has been a long time coming.
“I just wanted to get back in there, get back to winning ways and put a tough few years behind me.
“That is what I did.
“I enjoyed it and soaked it up.
“I definitely feel, for me being out of the ring for so long, that I was sharp and on it.
“I said in the week of the fight, the weigh-in and fight day, I said to my family and my team that I just wish I felt like this for my last fight.
“It was the biggest fight of my life and I had to pay the price and learn the hard way on the biggest stage.
“It was just unfortunate circumstances but I have learnt a lot from that.”
McGregor, who lives in Blindwells, was in no mood to hang about at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Glasgow on Saturday evening.
He had already hurt his Colombian opponent before a body shot sent him to the canvas.
Moya managed to beat the count but the contest was soon waved off.
McGregor described it as “the perfect sort of fight” and was delighted to get back to winning ways.
Now, the 27-year-old is again targeting a world title bout but stressed that he needed to follow the correct path to glory.
That comes after he struggled following the defeat last July at Edinburgh’s Meadowbank Sports Centre.
He said: “It took me until January to feel back to my old self.
“Since January, I have ground away, had my head down and worked so hard.
“I have worked every day not knowing what was happening but I just kept working and doing the same thing.”
McGregor spoke to Courier Sport on Tuesday afternoon after he completed a gym session as he looked to get back in the ring.
He was hopeful that another bout could be confirmed by the end of the week and was confident of fighting at least twice before the end of the year.
He said: “I’m in the gym pushing and trying to go again as soon as possible.
“I want to make up for lost time and I don’t want long spells out of the ring.
“I will sit down with my team and, hopefully, have something confirmed by the end of the week.
“I want to do two fights but would be absolutely delighted if I can get three.”
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