Young thrilled to be facing Estonian ace

Published on Wednesday 4 June 2008 10:24

GILMERTON welterweight Gary Young is relishing the prospect of a stern test against Estonia's Alexander Spitko at the SECC in Glasgow on Saturday week.

The pair will clash on a fight bill also featuring the unbeaten Edinburgh super-middleweight, Kenny Anderson, and Capital featherweight Jason Hastie on June 14.

Spitko has knocked out or stopped three of his most recent opponents, while he has also blown away the challenge of Fifer Willie Bilan.

And Young reckons the Estonian is just the type of tricky opponent he needs to beat to make others sit up and take note of his credentials as a contender for the British welterweight title

Young, who has just completed a gruelling training and sparring programme at Freddie Roach's gym in Los Angeles, said: "I told my manager, Barry Hughes, I didn't want to fight another journeyman like England's David Kirk. I wanted to meet a really tough opponent to establish my street cred as a contender for the British welterweight title.

"Barry has certainly obliged because Spitko is the kind of dangerous guy I need to beat if people are going to take me seriously again as a title contender."

Meanwhile, Anderson will face Welshman Nathan King on the same night at the Glasgow venue. The Capital puncher has also been told that he'll fight at London's 02 Arena on Saturday, July 12.Hastie's opponent for the June 14 bill has yet to be confirmed.