Peter McGrail faces Argentinian champ Nicolas Nahuel Botelli
Peter McGrail vs Nicolas Nahuel Botelli starts at 7:30pm on DAZN
Liverpool boxing hero Peter McGrail (6-0, 5KO) enters into his second 10-round contest on Saturday night, March 11, against an Argentinian champion, Nicolas Nahuel Botelli (14-7, 8KO) at the M&S Bank Arena in his home city.
Tokyo 2020 Olympian, McGrail comes into the contest off the back off five straight KOs, which have all come before the midway mark.
Trained by Paul Stevenson at the Everton Red Triangle, he counts WBC Silver featherweight champ Nick Ball and KO artist Andrew Cain as teammates and sparring partners.
The 26-year-old talent was an outstanding amateur, winning bronze twice at the World Championships and scooped up gold at the European Championships and Commonwealth Games.
Known as ‘The Liverpool Lomachenko’, he likes to apply constant pressure from mid range, raining in punches from all angles. His speed, skill, balance, and ability to read and swiftly counter his opponents is just some of the attributes he possesses which draws the comparisons to the Ukrainian triple world champion.
The southpaw is special, it’s clear to everyone who watches and transparently evident already in these few early performances of his career. He piles on the pressure early in fights, unfazed by any occasion, already headlining his own show, competing in fights abroad in Dubai and Japan, and now involved in his second 10-rounder on his Matchroom Boxing debut.
He’s rarely positioned away from the centre of the ring, where he dictates the pace and commands the fight. His feet are so fast, and it’s that speed and agility that allows him hit and not get hit when he is just within reach. He can whip in and out of range so quickly and nimbly, which is also due to his incredible reflexes, fluid rhythm and high tempo too.
He is always slot-changing and dipping in levels to avoid attacks and to set up his own shots, but mostly to collect data from his opponents to use against them. As soon as he has done his research, within a round or two, he is able to begin to really punish them with his feints and footwork and quick hands, and it’s usually the beginning of the end from there.
Not only is McGrail a skilful, intelligent fighter, but he also has a world-class team around him, consisting of his world-ranked championship-level teammates, mentioned earlier, but most importantly, his trainer Paul Stevenson, who is finally becoming noticed as the one of the country’s leading boxing coaches.
Paul has guided Peter from a young age all the way through his stellar amateur career into the pro ranks and on towards – what is widely expected to be – world title shots.
Newly signed to Matchroom Boxing, McGrail is aiming to announce himself on the DAZN platform with an impressive performance to make his new audience sit up and take notice.
With a far superior skillset at his disposal, the Merseysider should be able to get inside of Botelli’s long reach to get his best work off. The South American prefers to box at range, so when Peter can penetrate his zone to get into close quarters, then it should see him thrive while the other feels uncomfortable.
If the high guard is up, then Peter’s agile, sprightly style should work wonders to be able to get under those elbows and into the body. Sultan Zaurbek was able to get under those arms to KO him with a left hook to the body in their York Hall fight last year.
McGrail keeps his southpaw right foot on the outside of his opponent’s front foot, and when he steps forward past their leading foot, he is able to land big left hands to body and head, which is going to be the key shot that will likely trouble Botelli on the night.
The Argentinian is 25-years-old and the national champion at featherweight. He has won his last three fights, which includes two stoppages and two championship wins.
The South American likes to fight at range, due to having a long reach and a snappy jab. When he’s comfortably winning fights, he can drop his left and hold it in a sling to flick his jabs upwards from his hips, but it’s unlikely he will get the space or confidence to do this against McGrail in what will be his third fight abroad and second appearance in the UK.
Known as the ‘Pitbull’, Botelli is a good all-rounder with a very decent skillset and good technique. He throws a wide variety of shots, but his favourite punch is the overhand right. He will likely be looking to keep McGrail at range with his long arms and jab, but he has 10-rounds to try to get through with one of the world’s most exciting prospects.
Prediction
I have little reason to believe this ends in anything other than an early KO for McGrail.
I think his opponent is on a bit of good form of late; his previous three victories have all been impressive, both in his performances and the results, against respectable opponents with a combined record of 70-29.
Hopefully, this will produce a confident fighter in front of McGrail on fight night, to make for an interesting contest, but I don’t think Botelli has the power to trouble McGrail, who will be using his quick feet and deft movement to get in and out of range.
McGrail to win by KO between rounds 1-5.
Did you know: Peter McGrail once fought against unified WBC / WBO super-featherweight world champion Shakur Stevenson in the World Boxing Series in 2016.
Who is Nicolas Nahuel Botelli
Article sponsored by HÖRFA
