Boxing: Taylor wins praise

CAPITAL Commonwealth Games boxing hopefuls Steve Simmons and Josh Taylor had mixed fortunes at a pre-Delhi match against German champions in Germany.

Leith Victoria heavyweight Simmons had to pull out of his planned three-round bout due to a sore throat and swollen head. But in contrast, lightweight, Josh Taylor from the Lochend club, gave an excellent account of himself over three tough rounds with Erwin Burhard.

Commonwealth Games team coach Mike Keane said: "It was good to see all the Scottish boxers involved, including Josh Taylor, more than hold their own with the German team.''

Meanwhile, the Edinburgh amateur club boxing season will kick off on Friday, 3 September at the Corn Exchange when Mark Geraghty's Queensferry club host a challenge from a joint Sunderland and Cumbria squad.

And, in his capacity as Amateur Boxing Scotland's female boxing development co-ordinator, Geraghty has launched an appeal to all females thinking of taking up the sport for the first time, to come to Leith Victoria's Academy Street gym on Sunday, 12 September between 1-3pm. Said Geraghty: "I am keen to attract as many women as possible from Edinburgh and district to the sport."