Comeback man Young guns for welterweight title and his career back on track

Published on Saturday 14 November 2009 20:57

HE WAS once the poster boy of Scottish boxing, a handsome articulate amateur champion who stepped up to the professional ranks with aplomb.

Gary Young even had his own celebrity fan – television and radio star Paul O'Grady became a big supporter as Young racked up 15 straight wins as a pro.

But in April 2006 at Meadowbank, Young rushed from the bell to try and batter Colin McNeil from Fauldhouse in a British title eliminator, only to hang out his chin and be knocked spark out inside the first round.

Two fights later, and Young's career appeared to be finished after he suffered a badly broken right hand in a win over David Kirk back in September 2007. Young's injury took a long time to heal, and then a six month spell in America failed to produce the opportunities that he was looking for, so the 26-year-old decided to return home earlier this year.

After more than two years out of the ring, tonight in Glasgow's Pavilion Theatre, Young will try and get his career back on track when he faces another boxer from Gilmerton in Edinburgh, Gary McMillan, for the Scottish welterweight title.

The clash is a first title shot for Young, who says it would mean even more to him to capture the Scottish championship – which is often belittled by some in boxing circles – during this Homecoming year.

He said: "It would mean a lot to me to win the Scottish title. Most importantly, it puts you in the No.1 position in your division in Scotland. I am looking to get back among the top welterweights in Britain, and I can't do that if I am not No.1 in Scotland. This year has seen the Homecoming celebrations taking place and I intend to mark my homecoming from America by winning the Scottish title."

At the weigh-in at promoter Alex Morrison's Glasgow gym yesterday, both Young and Gary McMillan scaled comfortably inside the championship limit. Young at 146lbs 9oz while McMillan was 146lbs 4oz.

Despite some unneighbourly verbal sparring in the build-up to the contest, there were no hostilities between the pair as they came face-to-face which saw McMillan label Young "one-dimensional" and state that he "still boxes the same way as he did when he was 15 years old".

It wasn't quite all smiles yesterday because both men are determined to win. McMillan said: "That's the hard part out of the way. I've done all the work in the gym and the fighting is the easy part. I'm just looking forward to the fight and making sure I get the win and my first title."

The undercard features former WBU lightweight champion Willie Limond. Tickets priced at 20, 30 and 40 are still available from the Pavilion Theatre on 0141-332 1846.