Simmons set to star in Leith Vics' summer show

Published on Thursday 24 April 2008 10:24

LEITH VICTORIA'S former Olympic heavyweight boxing contender Steve Simmons is poised to make his first appearance in three and a half years for his club on the annual Leith Victoria Summer show in the Edinburgh Masonic Club on Sunday, May 11.

Simmons, whose opponent has still to be confirmed, said: "My international commitments have previously prevented me from boxing on a Leith Vics club show since late 2004, but now that I'm free of all Olympic commitments I've told club secretary Douglas Fraser that I would like to top the bill on May 11 as a way of thanking the Leith Vics for the on-going support they gave in my drive to reach the 2008 Olympics.

"But Dougie amazed me by telling me that he was also going to express the club's thanks to me by staging another fight between me and a top international amateur heavyweight in an all-ticket event at another Edinburgh venue in June.''

Meanwhile, Simmons praised the form of rising professional super-middleweight star Kenny Anderson, with whom he has been sparring with ahead of Anderson's clash against Welshman Nathan King on the Arthur v Guzman undercard next week.

Simmons observed: "Kenny is razor-sharp and really punching hard and I figure that he will add another stoppage win to his 5-0 record.''

Meanwhile, a stag night has spoiled big-punching Glenrothes Scottish light-heavyweight champion Tom Carter's chance of revenge tonight at St Andrews against Irvine's Steven Maxwell, who controversially out-pointed student doctor Carter last week in a Glasgow club show.

Carter, who is also promoting and matching tonight's St Andrews show, said: "I asked Maxwell to fight me again on a guaranteed top-of-the-bill spot but he refused because he told me he's going to a stag night on Friday and that I'd punch him so hard that I'm bound to spoil his looks for his stag night!"

Tonight's bill in the Fife varsity town will feature two local derby bouts as Leith Victoria pair Paddy Jumelle and Alistair Hardie will clash against Holyrood's Phil Coppola and Midlothian's Scott Freeman respectively – while Leith Victoria light-heavyweight Darren Yorston also trades leather with Aberdeen University student boxer Chris Summers.