Up-and-coming Capital boxers rewarded with national vests

Published on Friday 4 July 2008 10:36

SCOTTISH boxing youth team boss Peter Harrison has selected three Capital fighters for national vests.

Gilmerton lightweight Connor McCallum has been rewarded for turning in a great performance last week in Bulgaria by being selected for the British Cadet championships next month.

Harrison said: "Connor was up against top English rival Calum Winton in Bulgaria and led 5-1 in the first round before losing on points.

"It was a good showing so I'm now optimistic he can do well in Cardiff on July 24."

The Cadet championships are for fighters aged 15 and McCallum will be joined in Cardiff by other promising eastern boxers, Sparta featherweight Chris McHale and Gilmerton's Kevin Skey.

Another Gilmerton fighter making the news is light- flyweight Josh Taylor who has been nominated for the Clydesdale Bank Athlete of the Month Award by Scotland senior coach Kevin Smith.

"I've nominated Josh because in the last four months he has won a Gold medal in Finland, two Bronze medals in Russia and Croatia, plus a Silver at Portobello in the British Youth championships, his form has been first class overall," said Smith.

Meanwhile, Sparta's youth bantamweight champion, Stuart Blackie, has been chosen to go to Liverpool next week to undergo European championship assessment tests to determine possible selection to box for Scotland in the European Youth championships.

Members at Edinburgh's famous Sparta gym have been told next month's deadline to quit the Lower London Road premises has been extended because the owners of the building have postponed plans for demolition of the site for housebuilding.