Mhura back with a bang in Lasswade

Published on Monday 3 March 2008 09:31

FUNDO MHURA celebrated his boxing comeback after a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a stunning victory in Lasswade.

The Leith Victoria middleweight star delivered a thunderous right cross in the third round that knocked opponent Andrew McKelvie spark out.

It was a pulverising blow which drew gasps of awe from the large crowd in Lasswade High School gym and fortunately the Dundee boxer recovered after requiring medical attention.

"I had something to prove in there and I did it – I now aim to win the Scottish title," said Mhura.

Meanwhile, there was a major shock in another middleweight bout when unheralded Kieran Finn, 28 – boxing for Terry McCormack's Lochend club – defeated reigning Scottish middleweight champion Darryl Campbell by outpointing him by 11-10.

Leith Victoria's classy counterpunching light-welter Sandy Forsyth battled into the semi-finals of the 1990 class Junior championships by stopping Gilmerton's Sen Eng in the third round.

Gilmerton lightwelterweight John Thain won his senior 64kg prelim by outboxing Newharthill's Ross McMurdie 7-2 while Thain's Gilmerton lightweight clubmate, Mark Baxter, battled through to the 1991 class Juniors semi-finals by beating Glasgow Dennistoun's Euan McLure.

Unfortunately, both Sparta boxers who competed at Lasswade were eliminated – with Denny featherweight Liam Moles reversing the loss he suffered to Sparta rival Dave Cowan in the Eastern District final in November 2006 thanks to a 6-4 win. In a Junior 1991 class bantamweight bout, Sparta's Lewis Benson lost to Airdrie's Barry Craig by 13-5.

Finally, two Sparta boxers, bantamweight Gareth Stemp and welterweight Gary Collins, received byes through to the semi-finals on March 12.

&#149 WITH the death from cancer on Friday of Leith Victoria club official Eric Bell at the age of 73, the last chapter has been written in the story of the renowned Bell boxing dynasty from Leith.

Proud Leithers all, Alex, Marshall, and Eric Bell dominated Scottish amateur and pro lightheavyweight and heavyweight boxing in the 1930s and 40s.

A tireless worker for his beloved Leith Victoria right up to 12 months ago, Eric Bell was described by Leith Victoria club boss Douglas Fraser as 'a true Leith Vics stalwart and a natural gentleman who was an excellent boxer in his own right'.