Boxing: Emotional top-billing for fighter Philbin

By his own admission, the Lochend middleweight couldn't face boxing for several months after the loss of dad Patrick following a heart attack.

The multi-titled Scottish internationalist, 21, will line up against Alloa's Darren Reid this Sunday and admitted: "There never is a good time to lose a parent - especially one as young as my dad - but, from a purely boxing point of view, it couldn't have happened at a worse time as I had hit some great form and was looking to add the Senior Scottish middleweight title to the three Eastern welterweight Senior titles I had won. But dad's death upset me so much I just couldn't face boxing for a time.

"He encouraged me and was thrilled when I started boxing as a ten-year-old at the Leith Victoria club in 2001.

"There I won six eastern youth titles plus three Scottish crowns and a Four Nations Bronze medal in 2004 and followed it up with a Four Nations Gold medal in 2006 - wins that made my father hugely proud of me."

What makes Philbin's ring success so impressive is that he has to fit his training schedules around his job as a fishmonger in Broxburn where he works nine-hour-long nightshifts.

"As you can imagine, it isn't easy doing a nine-hour nightshift then having to go to the gym after four hours sleep to work out and spar, but I am engaged to be married so sooner or later I'll be looking to turn pro. But first I must win that senior middleweight amateur title that fate prevented me from winning last year.''

Philbin's coach Terry McCormack hailed his fighter, saying: "Tommy is hugely popular with local ring fans because they love his all-action style - but he's an intelligent fighter too, a great listener between rounds.

"We know what Tommy went through when he lost his dad so unexpectedly and we know how much this fight on Sunday means to him so we'll be doing everything we can to ensure that when he dedicates this bout to his late Dad it will be as a winner rather than a loser.''