Boxing: Legendary coach opens 'Bronx' gym

Legendary local pro-am boxing coach George Bordon had a tear in his eye as a posse of the top names that he helped to win amateur and professional titles rallied round to applaud him, as he and unbeaten Edinburgh middleweight Craig McEwan formally opened the brand new ''Bronx" gym in Tranent, watched also by over 100 members of the public who wanted to see what was on offer.

Among the big boxing guns - past and present - who witnessed their former ring coach and cornerman Bordon jointly open the facility in Tranent last nght with Craig McEwan were former W.B.O. superfeatherweight champion Alex Arthur with his four championship belts - world, British and European; ex-British flyweight champion Keith Knox, following in his old mentor Bordon's footsteps by now coaching at the ''Bronx'' club; and Wallyford's 1992 Barcelona Olympian Streve Wilson - whom Bordon seconded against Welsh legend Joe Calzaghe in a 1995 British title clash.

Commented Bordon: ''Having developed so many champions myself, nobody knows the importance of first-rate gym facilities better than I do, and the facilities here are first rate - so much so that I'm confident that Bronx club boss Alex Brown - backed up by my old protegees, flyweight Keith Knox and supermiddleweight Streve Wilson - will produce future boxing champions here in the future and make the ''Bronx'' club respected locally and nationally in amateur boxing circles.''

Meanwhile, ''Bronx'' club leader Alex Brown responded: ''I am really grateful to the Evening News, as around 100 people - many of them here tonight responded to my appeal to come to the club opening. I'm equally grateful ex-world champion Alex Arthur not only came here with his four championship belts, but also donated two sets of signed boxing gloves for us to auction at our first show in Tranent in October.''