Extra coaching for Simmons can keep Olympic flame lit

Published on Wednesday 20 February 2008 09:17

LEITH VICTORIA'S Olympic hopeful Steve Simmons has been putting in extra work with Scottish national development coach Peter Harrison ahead of next week's make-or-break qualifying tournament in Italy.

Simmons travels to Pescara knowing that only victory will see him realise his dream of becoming the first Scottish heavyweight to box in an Olympic Games in Beijing this summer.

Simmons said: "I'm so determined that negative scenario isn't going to happen that I was delighted to accept an offer from Peter Harrison to go last week to his Glasgow gym and work on my style weaknesses under his supervision.

"For example, I am not always comfortable fighting southpaws so Peter had me sparring with one of his southpaw heavyweights while he showed me ring moves on how to deal with right fist forward boxers.

"Peter also had me work out moves that addressed my ring weaknesses with another, lighter boxer to hopefully, improve my chances of qualifying at Pescara.

"I'm a superstitious boxer so I also went back to train with my uncle Kenny Simmons at Marsden's Longstone gym in Edinburgh.

"That's where I prepared for my career-best win recently against world-rated Cuban, Osmay Acosta, and that is exactly the kind of form that I'll need in Pescara to seal that trip to China later this year for the Olympics. So, I will be as sharp as I possibly can next week."