 McEwan previously fought out of The Wild Card gym in Hollywood, where he was trained by world-renowned trainer Freddie Roach.In a fight on 12 March 2011 against Irish boxer Andy Lee, billed "The Celtic War", McEwan, after an almost perfect boxing performance, was convincingly knocked out in the 10th round by a left hook.Two of the fight's judges had the match scored even while one had McEwan with a slight edge.