Boxing: Grant leaves Cypriot on the ropes in international debut

Capital lightweight Robert Grant of the city's Clovenstone club used fast hands and great feinting and punching combinations to turn in an outstanding international debut as he beat Cypriot Nicolas Dimiriou on points at Glenrothes's Gilvanbank Hotel last night during a Scottish club select versus a Cyprus based amateur boxing team from Limassol.

Grant's great ring performance helped the Scottish hosts to draw 3-3 with a tough visiting squad, prompting Clovie coach Rab McEwan to enthuse: "That was a terrific show considering Grant has only had six bouts so far."

Again, Dunfermline southpaw lightweight and Scottish junior champion Calum Susans sent out a clear warning to all Scottish opponents at his weight of his bad intentions in next weekend's Scottish championships at Coatbridge by turning in a commanding points victory over Cypriot Andrei Podusovs to put the hosts ahead by 3-2.

Despite producing the best punch of the whole show - a savage left hook to the jaw in round two that dumped his Glenrothes opponent, Ross McDevitt in his own corner for an eight count - Tranent Bronx light-welterweight Mark Borthwick lost a majority points verdict to Fifer McDevitt. But it was hard to disagree with Borthwick's coach, Richard Snaith, who commented: "The decision against my man was all wrong. Borthwick threw the quality shots throughout the bout-like that left hook that dumped McDevitt in the second round, while absorbing most of the Glenrothes guy's punches on his arms and shoulders."