Boxing: GB call-up a timely boost for Lochend ace

The lightweight, who tops the bill as he clashes with Ulster champion James Fryers, has been selected for the British amateur boxing team working towards the 2012 Olympics - receiving a 7000-per-year bursary to help him meet the costs of full-time training.

Taylor said: "The award has really boosted my morale as I was previously struggling without regular sponsorship. I'm also thrilled as I got the money after being chosen for the British boxing team.

"I'll be training with the British team aiming at the World Amateur Championships in Azerbaijan and the Olympics.'' Taylor was upbeat about his clash tomorrow against Belfast-based opponent Fryers, whose Immaculta club is world renowned as a result of producing 1966 Commonwealth Games 64kgs gold medal winner Jim McCourt.

Taylor added: "I've been told that Fryers comes with a good record and is an Ulster and Irish champion. But my aim is to be even more impressive than I was when beating (Welshman] Mitch Buckland last week at Meadowbank. I've promised my coach Terry McCormack that this time I won't take my foot off the pedal if I'm ahead going into the last round as I did against Buckland.''

Meanwhile, Taylor's featherweight Lochend clubmate, Kevin Skey, also sees his 57kgs bout with Antrim-based Toome club's Enda Kennedy as a springboard to greater things.

"I don't know a lot about Kennedy (who was previously beaten 7-1 by Josh Taylor's opponent, James Fryers in an Irish championship clash] but I need to impress the Scottish team selectors so that I can stake a place for the British championships and Junior Olympics squad later this year.''

Lochend coach McCormack is confident that both Taylor and Skey can win well tomorrow.

"The Irish are no slouches in international boxing terms but both Taylor and Kevin Skey have been sparring and working really hard and they're both as fit and fired up as they can be," he said.

Fauldhouse middleweight Lewis Akinlame goes head to head with Belfast Immaculta's 75kgs ace Alfredo Meli, a tough puncher who will test Akinlame fully. The West Lothian boxer himself is a gritty performer so expect an interesting scrap.

Similarly, at bantamweight, Midlothian club's Scotty Brown boxes Gerard Callaghanm who is another seasoned performer at international level.

Amateur Scotland boss Richard Thomas said: "The ringside crowd have been guaranteed top quality boxing because the Northern Ireland team bosses insisted that, as far as possible, everyone of their boxers fighting at Meadowbank would be an Irish champion so we've met that by featuring our strongest possible team too.''

Doors will be open at Meadowbank at noon tomorrow with boxing commencing at 1pm. Prices are 10 for adults and 5 for concessions.