No ifs or butts, referee was right, says Gary Young

Published on Monday 16 November 2009 21:55

NEWLY crowned Scottish welterweight champion Gary Young claimed yesterday that Edinburgh ring rival Gary McMillan was the architect of his own downfall at Glasgow's Pavilion Theatre on Sunday evening.

McMillan was forced to fight with blood streaming from a nasty inch-long gash across his right eyebrow after a clash of heads during the second round.

But Young, given the verdict by referee Paul Graham by 96 points to 95, insisted the injury was self inflicted.

The 26-year-old said: "He rushed in with a southpaw hook but overreached and came in with his head, and because I was ducking, he caught the top of my head. I had to be on my guard all the time because he came rolling in a lot with his head.

"He also held a lot and that affected my concentration and made it difficult to stick to my game plan."

McMillan, 22, beaten only once previously in 11 fights, was furious at the decision and called for a rematch.

Young, who extended his record to 18 wins in 19 contests, is prepared to grant his request after declaring: "If he wants more, let's go for it. I don't have a problem with that."

It was Young's first fight for more than two years after he broke his right hand in a bout against David Kirk in September 2007, but it was hardly a classic, with McMillan – brought up in the capital just five miles from Young – seemingly intent on turning it into a turf war instead of relying on his boxing skills.