Boxing: Pound goes a long way for Appleby

Queensferry's former British featherweight champion Paul Appleby scaled just one pound heavier – at 9st 4lbs – than his West Ham opponent Mickey Coveney for tonight's clash at London's Grosvenor Hotel. But he vowed after yesterday's weigh-in to make this slight advantage pay.

"I'm determined to show that the gap in class between us is much bigger than our weight difference," he said. "Although our fight is scheduled for eight rounds, my aim is to suss him out for a couple of rounds then go for the stoppage as I have the punchpower Coveney lacks.

"However, I've abandoned plans to try to make and remain at the featherweight limit and concentrate on winning the vacant Commonwealth crown –then eventually challenge Ricky Burns for his WBO title."

Appleby's coach Terry McCormack said: "Tonight, promoter Frank Warren, who organised this charity show, will be present and this is a good chance for Paul to show that he is a serious contender for a crack at both the Commonwealth and world titles."

Meanwhile, Alex Brown, boss of the Tranent-based Bronx gym, announced yesterday that he would be personally sponsoring Edinburgh's Los Angeles -based unbeaten middleweight Craig McEwan for the former Clovenstone amateur's next fight in Las Vegas.

Brown said: "We have struck a sponsorship deal with Craig McEwan when he boxes on the Amir Khan undercard on December 11. Craig has trained at our gym and been enormously popular and helpful so we are proud to help in this way."

McEwan said: "This chance is not just about winning my 20th consecutive pro fight in America but serving notice that I too, need to start challenging for titles in the US."