Debutant Magee Jr targets a belt that eluded his father

EAMONN Magee Jr follows in his fathers footsteps when he makes his pro debut in Belfast tonight, but hopes his pro journey leads to a place that eluded his famous punching dad.

The popular ‘Terminator’, who put Ricky Hatton on the canvas long before your Mayweather’s and Pacquioa’s, claimed Commonwealth and WBU straps over an impressive career, but retired after a failed British title shot in 2007.

Magee Jr 21, who debuts against Magee’s sparring partner Paul Hyland’s debut foe Zoltan Horvath, wants to succeed where his dad failed and has targeted British Champion status.

“I’d planned on winning the Ulster or Irish Seniors and then hopefully going on to the Commonwealth Games but it wasn’t to be,” he explained to Steve Wellings in the Belfast Telegraph.

“I always had ambitions to turn professional. I’m not sure how far I’ll go but my main goal is to win the British title at lightweight.”