While all the focus will be on the Ricky Hatton and Floyd Mayweather WBC welterweight world championship bout on Saturday at the MGM Grand, Meager’s contest is at the same venue 24 hours earlier where he faces Mexican Jose Alberto Gonzales.
With many Jersey fight fans already in the USA, Meager can be sure of some great support.
Meager, who lost his British lightweight title belt to Hennessy sport stable mate Jon Thaxton over a tremendous 12 rounds last December, has had one bout since, defeating Laszio Komjathi at Bradford in September.
Gonzales has recorded six knockouts in 14 victories from 18 fights and will be a tough opponent for Meager.
Lee Meager said: ‘It’s very exciting to have the chance to be fighting in front of a lot of fans on such a big weekend for British boxing.
It’s great to be part of it and I intend to get the weekend off to a good start.’
Pisces coach Brian Rousseau, who took Salford-born Meager to the XVI Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, said: ‘We all wish Lee well, it’s certainly going to be a couple of excellent days of boxing in Las Vas.
‘He has come back well from his defeat by Thaxton to record a good win against Komjathi.
‘Lee is a tremendous boy with a big heart and sometimes having a big heart can be a bit of a downfall as happened against Thaxton; I didn’t like seeing him get hurt.
‘But he has recovered well and I know he will be absolutely thrilled to be boxing in America.
When we worked together it was always his dream to box there.
‘We had hoped it would have been in a world championship fight; it isn’t but I’m sure he will be up for the challenge.’
Many Jersey boxing fans have already left for Las Vagas this week including local boxers Ben Murray and Craig Culkin, St Paul’s Football Club coaches Dave Alexander and Gordon Hamilton and several regulars from the White Horse Inn.
And, of course, top promoter and Island resident Dennis Hobson is sure to be near ringside as will big fight fan Alexander Burnett who successfully bid for tickets in a recent charity auction.(bottom end
