Boxer is floored after contracting swine flu

Published on Monday 24 August 2009 10:19

CRAIGMILLAR-BASED boxing champion Gareth Stemp has many boxing firsts to his name.

Former British army soldier Stemp – the Scottish amateur bantamweight champion – was the first Holyrood club boxer to win a Scottish bantamweight title and the first club boxer to fight for Scotland at that weight.

But now he has achieved an unwanted first – he is the first Caledonian boxer to go down with swine flu.

He said: "I was on holiday with my girlfriend in Magaluf when, on returning home, I felt very unwell. But I was gobsmacked when I was told that I had picked up swine flu in Magaluf where I first felt a bit under the weather.

"My big worry now is that I have to box Glasgow Dennistoun's Joe Ham on 16 September in what could be a deciding bout for selection to the next Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in 2010, as Ham is the Scottish holder of the junior version of the bantamweight title held by me.

"However, I've been told that I can't train again until I'm pronounced clear of the swine flu so literally it's going to be a case of sweating out my illness and hoping that I recover in time."