Boxing: This is new Sparta, as famous club relaunched

Published on Wednesday 9 December 2009 09:24

DESPITE it being one of the most famous names in Scottish boxing, no boxer from the Sparta club has fought competitively since 2007.

But, after 18 months in which the amateur club all but disappeared from the local and international boxing scenes, Sparta is set to relaunch itself.

Coaching responsibility at the club, which was founded in 1946 and has boasted champions such as Ken Buchanan, Bobby Neill and Ian McLeod, now rests with Scott Forsyth and Denholm Hendry.

Forsyth says he has high hopes for the boxers he has entered for the Scottish Novices Championships at Bowhill, Fife, this weekend.

He said: "The division where we are hoping to make a really big impact is light-welterweight where we have four top boxers entered – Mark Borthwick, Keith Barr, Lewis Scott and Gareth Peace.

"At light-heavyweight, we have 23-year-old southpaw Dean O'Flaherty."

Craigmillar boxers also have high hopes of success and club official Stewart Anderson said: "Light-flyweight Joe Murray is determined to build on the excellent win he had in Fort William last weekend, as is flyweight Daniel Wickstead.

"We also rate flyweight Cameron Ross's chances of springing a surprise, while bantamweight Peter Casey is another serious title contender."

Queensferry will field one championship entry – 17-year-old welterweight Owen Spence.

For administrative reasons, the Craigmillar-based Holyrood club will feature five boxers under the Leith Victoria banner in the championships.