Boxing: Cowan makes his points with glory in Glenrothes

FORMER Queensferry club amateur bantamweight Dave Cowan, confounded his critics by brilliantly counter-punching his way to victory over Ryan McNicol in Glenrothes.

There had been talk that Cowan was facing a knock-out or at least a stoppage at the hands of the big-punching Glaswegian, but instead his first professional fight turned out to be a points win by 58-56.

Confident, smart moving, southpaw Cowan stormed back after a spell in the third round where he absorbed three of McNicol's punches to the jaw to give a commanding performance in the bout on Friday evening. Cowan's right jabs and hooks kept his always dangerous opponent at bay for six rounds.

In contrast, Cowan's former Sparta colleague and fellow bantamweight, Gareth Stemp, saw his pro debut end in anti-climax and disappointment at the Thistle Hotel in Glasgow when he came in seven pounds heavier than his opponent Anwar Faledi from Sheffield, who refused to concede the weight advantage after a check weigh-in.

"When I arrived at the fight venue early on Friday I weighed the contracted weight of 8st 3lb. It was so hot in the dressing room where I had to sit for five hours that I drank tons of water and ballooned up to 8st 10lb. Consequently I failed the agreed fight weight of 8st 3lbs – I'm really gutted," claimed Stemp.

There was better news on the same bill for Gilmerton welterweight Gary Young who outscored Londoner Duncan Cottier over eight rounds by 78-75 points.

Meanwhile, yet another Capital boxing debutant, Craigmillar's amateur light-flyweight John Harvey, not only outscored Montrose opponent John Bell on points in Lochee, Dundee on Friday night but was awarded the "Best Boxer of the Show'' award while Craigmillar lightheavyweight Lee Daily also posted a win on the same bill.