Boxing: Lothian lads deliver goods for Scots select

Published on Tuesday 10 November 2009 08:31

TWO Lothian amateur boxing young guns produced dazzling performances to help an eastern Scottish select draw 5-5 with a strong squad from Manchester's Jimmy Egan club in Kinghorn, Fife.

Craigmillar light-flyweight Joe Murray used crisp left jabs and hooks coupled with speedy ring movements to outpoint his Jimmy Egan's rival, George Breen in a manner that drew appreciative applause from ringside fans.

And, not to be outdone by his Craigmillar team mate, Midlothian middleweight Scott Grant used raw aggression and power to tame tough Peter Egan – son of the Manchester club's founder – in a thrilling toe-to-toe scrap.

Similarly, Madison welterweight Streven Cramb showed why he is regarded as such an exciting prospect by triumphing in a tight tussle where he had to come from behind to narrowly outscore Egan's Tom Spicer.

However, the Manchester visitor's leading middleweight, current English ABA champion, Hosea Burton, demonstrated his ring mastery over Scottish champion Darren Reid.

Burton dominated and his greater punch volume throughout guaranteed victory.

In another middleweight clash, Lochend coach Terry McCormack was adamant this his man Tommy Philbin had done enough to beat Fifer Sean Finney: "My boxer Philbin outboxed Finney for long spells," he claimed.

McCormack was happier by the performance of his returning featherweight champion Steve Tiffany, though, who outpointed Fauldhouse's Sean Watson. And Queensferry's southpaw lightweight champion Stuart Blackie was outpointed by Egan's Ashley Joyce.