Boxing Kenny Anderson 'as good as Steve Collins'

Published on Saturday 21 November 2009 10:19

FORMER WBA featherweight boxing champ Barry McGuigan has hailed the progress of his protégé Kenny Anderson and tipped the Edinburgh fighter as a future world champ, writes BRIAN DONALD.

Commonwealth Games champion Anderson was also compared favourably with Irish dual world title-holder Steve Collins by coach Kevin Maree.

A report by Maree covering the first sixty days of Anderson's time in McGuigan's stable of fighters was glowing in its terms.

And McGuigan said: "I'm not at all surprised – Anderson will become a world champion in the near future because I don't think that there is a better super- middleweight in Britain outside of world champion Carl Froch."

Anderson will take on Welshman Jamie Ambler in his first fight under McGuigan's guidance on November 29 and Maree said: "Over the last two months, Anderson has demonstrated the same intimidating strength, the same fearsome punchpower, steely determination and ice cool ring temperament as Steve Collins.

"Once Ambler is polished off , I'm confident he will win his British title eliminator in Glasgow in January and fight and win a British 12-stone title by June."

&#149 EDINBURGH University hosts the annual Scottish Varsity boxing championships on 5-6 December at the Pleasance. Tickets are 6, with concessions available, and can be bought on the door.