Forsyth eager to make mark in Mexico duel

Published on Wednesday 20 August 2008 10:33

LEITH VICTORIA'S Scottish youth champion, Sandy Forsyth, is hoping to make something of a wave in Mexico when he boxes for Scotland in the world amateur boxing championships, starting in October.

Ace counter-puncher Forsyth, who will travel to Guadalajara for the October 25 to November 2 event, said: "I was really disappointed by my losing performance at Portobello Town Hall in the British Youth championships.

"I was also gutted when I was told recently that I wouldn't be in the Scottish Junior Commonwealth Games boxing team for Poona, India, in October, but this makes up for these disappointments.

"I've already had a pledge from my Leith Victoria clubmate, Fundo Mhura, that he will spar with me to make sure I'm really sharp for Guadalajara."

Meanwhile, fight manager and promoter Tommy Gilmour admitted that the first three rounds will be crucial when his former six-times Eastern and Scottish amateur champion, Jamie Coyle, attempts to become the first Caledonian boxer this century to win a British light-middleweight title and Lonsdale Belt on September 20 against defending champion Ryan Rhodes in the Sheffield fighter's backyard.

Claimed Gilmour: "Coyle is a notoriously slow starter in the ring – he usually needs at least three rounds to warm up and hit his fight rhythm – so that's my main worry, but if he gets by these first three rounds I really fancy his chances of beating Rhodes and returning to Scotland as the British 11-stone champion.

"That's what happened in Kirkcaldy a couple of years ago when Coyle was caught cold and knocked out in the first round by Karl David, but Coyle and his coach John McDermott will be working on this early rounds problem, and if he gets past the early stages I'm confident that he can beat Rhodes.

"One thing is certain, having fought all over the world as an amateur, Coyle won't be worried at all about clashing with Rhodes on his own Sheffield patch."