Boxing: Philbin able to honour late father with win over Reid

Published on Friday 22 April 2011 11:27

The top-of-the-bill middleweight clash at the Leith Vics show between Lochend's Tommy Philbin and Alloa's Darren Reid, was always going to be an emotional affair given that Philbin had pledged to dedicate any win to his late father Patrick.

Before the match got under way at the Edinburgh Masonic club, Philbin and his two ring cornermen Eric Brown and John McCarron sported t-shirts with a photograph of Patrick who tragically died recently from a heart attack at the age of just 44.

Philbin subsequently won the bout on a majority points decision but was made to scrap all the way by two-time Scottish champion Reid.

The tearful and emotional victor was comforted by his corner team and he later said: "All my family were there and as I was doing it for my Dad I was determined not to lose - but Reid was a really tough opponent.''

In the other bouts, Holyrood middleweight Douglas Ringhurst survived two standing eight counts in round one against East Lothian's Alan Cockburn to go the distance before losing only by a majority points decision.

Meanwhile, Leith Victoria light-flyweight Tylar Gibson outpointed Cleland's Jack Nicholas.

Other good victories were posted by the host club's Sean White who outscored Craigmillar's Tony James. while Renfrewshire's Stewart Burt beat Leith welterweight Alistair Hardie. And Lochend lightweight David Dickson got the better of Holyrood's Phil Coppola in a tight, taut, tussle while East Lothian duo Mike Snaith of Tranent's Bronx club and East Lothian's Keith Colgan defeated Chirnside's Dan Crow and Leith Vics Gregor Korsak.