Boxing: Tough test for Lochend duo

Lochend amateur boxing club coach Terry McCormack is hopeful that his two boxers - lightweight Commonwealth Games Silver medallist Josh Taylor and welterweight Tommy Philbin - can at least get among the medals in Liverpool this weekend in the British Amateur championships.

McCormack accepts that both his boxers have a tough assignment given the outstanding quality of the opposition they will face. "While Josh Taylor could face Welsh opponent Joe Cardini who Josh previously outpointed on a Midlothian club show a while back, he will be bracketed with the English guy who beat him in Delhi for gold, Robert Stalker, and the current English ABA champion Martin Ward, who is another formidable opponent," he said.

"Tommy Philbin may be a late call-up to the Scottish squad in Liverpool but he has been on fire at club level, having won 12 of his last 14 bouts but Tommy knows that winning a title or medal will be tough," McCormack added.