Boxing: European title shot in pipeline if Lee McAllister makes piece of history

LEE McALLISTER has been handed an additional incentive to make a piece of Scottish boxing history tonight. The popular Aberdeen fighter is bidding to win the vacant Commonwealth light-welterweight title at the Beach Ballroom in his home city when he takes on Isaac Quartey of Ghana.

No Scot has claimed the Commonwealth ten stone belt since its inception back in 1972 and McAllister, currently the lightweight champion, is also hoping to become the first to simultaneously hold Commonwealth titles in two weight divisions. But Tommy Gilmour, McAllister's promoter, has revealed there could be an even bigger reward for the 28-year-old if he is successful this evening. Gilmour has already lodged a bid for McAllister to secure a European title challenge against the winner of next Saturday's clash between Giuseppe Lauri of Italy and unbeaten Russian Denis Shafikov.

"I've put an offer on the table for a shot at the European belt," said Gilmour, "and if things go according to plan, I'd like to try and put it on in Scotland in October. Lee has won a few titles in his career, his achievements speak for themselves, but we want to keep him moving onwards and upwards. I believe he is good enough to become European champion, but he has to take care of business against Quartey first of all."

Both men scaled inside the ten-stone limit at the first time of asking at yesterday's weigh-in. McAllister was 9st 13lb 12oz, with Quartey one pound lighter.

Quartey has been a model of inconsistency and inactivity since turning professional ten years ago, winning seven and losing six of his 14 contests with one draw. But a recent streak of three straight wins, including a sixth-round stoppage of Nii Akrofi to win the Ghanaian light-welterweight title last September, has earned him his shot at the Commonwealth crown.

It will be the first time Quartey, who calls himself Chokor Dynamite, has boxed outside of his home country and he is likely to be no more successful against McAllister than three of his compatriots have been on their visits to Scotland. Ben Odamattey, Godfriend Sowah and Sam Amoako have all been beaten by the Scot in recent years and Quartey should be added to the list.

On the undercard, Scottish heavyweight prospect Gary Cornish has his second professional outing when he takes on the veteran Hastings Rasani over six rounds. Inverness 23-year-old Cornish, who made a winning debut at the St Andrew's Sporting Club in March, will be keen to impress against 37-year-old Birmingham-based Rasani who has previously shared a ring with WBA heavyweight champion David Haye.

Meanwhile, world champion Ricky Burns has warned Nicky Cook he is taking a step up in class when they meet next month after the challenger played down the Scot's credentials.Cook recently compared Burns in style to Edinburgh's Alex Arthur, who he beat in 2008 to win the WBO super-featherweight belt that is up for grabs when the pair meet in Liverpool.

Burns said: "I'm looking forward to getting Cook in Liverpool next month and giving him the hardest night of his life. Nicky better bring his A game or else he will be in trouble."