Boxing: Edinburgh duo aim for straight As

Two of Edinburgh's pro boxing A-Team, supermiddleweight Kenny Anderson and superfeatherweight Paul Appleby, will be in action within 24 hours of each other this weekend after taking short-notice bouts.

Former British featherweight champion Appleby goes head- to-head with Mickey Coveney tomorrow night at the Grosvenor Hotel in London's Park Lane and, despite having beaten him in September 2006. the South Queensferry fighter is taking nothing for granted this time around.

"It's true that I outpointed Coveney before in London over six rounds but, although this might be seen as a warm-up fight I can't afford to slip up as there has been talk of me fighting for the Commonwealth crown vacated by Coatbridge's WBO champion Ricky Burns," said Appleby.

"So this eight-rounder tomorrow will sharpen me up and keep me on track for that possible Commonwealth title fight.''

"I've had sparring sessions with Lochend's former Scottish amateur featherweight champion, Steve Tiffany, and I know what to expect from Coveney who is a tricky customer but then I too am a much improved fighter since we last met in Bethnal Green's York Hall."

Meanwhile, leading British supermiddleweight title contender Anderson explained why he took his six-round clash with Sheffield light-heavyweight Carl Wild at Bolton on Saturday. "I grabbed the offer of fighting Wild over six rounds on this Hatton Promotions bill because, when I had my last ring contest back in January of this year against Patrick Mendy, ring rust made me look an unconvincing winner.

"With a major British title eliminator coming up in October against Liverpool's Peter Quigley I'm not prepared to look as sluggish as I was against Mendy so Carl Wild, who twice took highly-rated Carl Dilks the distance, will be a good way of keeping sharp.

And Anderson had a warning for his opponent. "I also won't be doing Wild any favours when the bell goes either in Bolton as I aim to justify my No 1 contender status.''