Thain is only winner for Scots in Irish thrashing

Published on Saturday 25 April 2009 10:10

LOCHEND welterweight John Thain was the only bright spot as Scotland were thumped 9-1 by Ireland in an amateur boxing international in Dublin.

Thain had a convincing 11-3 win over Irish champion Paul Barbour and said afterwards: "The very large boxing ring in Dublin's national Stadium favoured my rapid stick-and-move style and I dominated him throughout with my left jab and right uppercuts.

"I'm delighted that my win prevented a 10-0 whitewash."

Thain's middleweight clubmate Chris Cowan admitted his 7-1 loss to David Joyce was deserved.

He said: "In retrospect, I gave Joyce, who is a former Irish 64 and 69kgs national champion, too much respect. But I'm a novice at international level so I hope to take some valuable lessons."

Leith Victoria light-heavyweight Tom Carter also had no excuses after his 6-3 loss to Denis Hogan and said: "Being beaten was no disgrace as he was a big, strong guy who shrugged off some of my heaviest punches."

The second leg of the double header is in Wexford on Sunday.