Boxing: Simmons ready to turn on power in Aberdeen

Published on Friday 20 March 2009 08:57

LEITH VICTORIA'S heavyweight title contender Steve Simmons reckons he'll have too much power for rival Mike McDonagh in tonight's Scottish championship semi-final in Aberdeen.

Simmons said: "I think I will be too experienced and hit too hard for McDonagh – especially as I've been training under ex-world champion Richie Woodhall in Sheffield for this bout."

But veteran coach Bert Watt, cousin of former world lightweight champion Jim, said: "I coached McDonagh from raw novice to title contender and he is an accomplished boxer whom I think could cause an upset."

Lochend middleweight Chris Cowan faces Philip Warner from the Springhill club in Lanarkshire in his semi-final and Warner's coach Frank Delaney said: "On paper, Warner is vastly more experienced than Cowan but I refuse to forecast that he is a dead cert to win."

Cowan's coach Terry McCormack said: "Warner has been around the block compared to Cowan but Cowan can punch and is fit and fired up for title glory."