Boxing: Simmons turns down pro offers to focus on London

Published on Thursday 2 April 2009 09:52

LEITH VICTORIA'S recently crowned Scottish heavyweight champion Steve Simmons has decided to remain amateur and stay as part of the Great Britain 2012 Olympic squad, writes BRIAN DONALD.

Simmons, who narrowly missed out on making the Beijjing Olympic Games team, said: "I've had several offers to turn pro but I'm only 24 and I decided that as I am improving all the time from the coaching I receive at the Great Britain Olympic training camp in Sheffield, I will remain an amateur and aim for the 2012 games.

"I'll still be young enough to go pro after the 2012 games as heavyweight boxers mature much later than lighter division boxers."

Simmons was today flying to Finland as a member of the Scottish Senior international team taking part in the GB tournament also which features around a dozen other countries.

Meanwhile, Scottish international squad senior coach, Kevin Smith, while backing Simmons' decision, explained why Edinburgh Holyrood's Scottish 54kgs champion, Gareth Stemp, was omitted from the squad in favour of Aberdeen boxer, Andrew Cuthbert, whom Stemp defeated 11-1 last week in the Scottish bantamweight final at Lasswade.

"The team for Finland this weekend was selected six weeks ago, before the Scottish finals.

"I'm delighted that Simmons has decided to remain an amateur and box for Scotland, at 24 he still is young enough to turn pro after the 2012 games but in the meantime I have high hopes for Simmons in Finland."

However, Stemp has been included, along with Simmons, to fight in Gibraltar on April 19 in an international tournament.