Appleby faces Pickering in first title defence

Published on Wednesday 29 October 2008 22:03

PAUL Appleby will make his first defence of the British featherweight title against former world title contender Esham Pickering at the Bellahouston Sports Centre in Glasgow on 28 November.

The 21-year-old South Queensferry boxer faces the sternest test yet of his fledgling career against 40-fight veteran Pickering, who is a former British, Commonwealth and European super-bantamweight champion. Tommy Gilmour, manager of Appleby, admits the voluntary title defence against the 32-year-old Englishman represents a gamble for his young prodigy, but is confident he will remain on target to become a world champion by 2011.

"We have got a three-year plan for Paul," said Gilmour, "and I don't think we will see the best of him until 2011. He is a still a baby in boxing terms at the moment, but in three years time I believe he could hold a world title.

"Pickering is a risk, but so is any fight when you are a champion. It's tougher to hold on to a title than it is to win it. But I believe Paul will learn a lot from fighting someone like Pickering who has been operating at championship level for so long."

Appleby was recently crowned Britain's Young Boxer of the Year at an awards ceremony in London as recognition of a meteoric start to his professional career which saw him win the British title in only his 12th contest against John Simpson at the Kelvin Hall in June. It was a contest which saw him complete the 12-round championship distance for the first time, but he does not intend to repeat the experience against Pickering at the end of next month.

"It has given me a lot of confidence to know I can do the 12 rounds if necessary," said Appleby, "but I think I can beat Pickering inside the distance. I'm definitely looking to stop him."

Next month's fight will be Pickering's 14th major championship contest in an excellent career which saw him unsuccessfully challenge Mauricio Martinez for the WBO bantamweight title back in 2000.

Appleby and Pickering top a high quality bill at the atmospheric Bellahouston venue, with the undercard featuring three former British champions in Buckhaven welterweight Kevin Anderson, Motherwell light-welterweight Barry Morrison and Greenock featherweight John Simpson.