Boxing: Edinburgh boxers excel at District Championships

Meadowbank star Lewis  Paulin recorded the greatest margin of victory after thrashing opponent Martin Buchanan 23-3 to lift the 56kg award – his second Eastern District title  after winning the 60kg event last year.

The 22-year-old has only trained with Meadowbank within the past year after moving from South Queensferry boxing club, but believes he has benefited from the transition.

Paulin said: “The facilities are a lot better at Meadowbank. We’ve got a couple of rings so we’ve always got good sparring and that has helped bring everyone on at the club. I thought I’d try boxing at 56kg and found it quite easy and was comfortable at that weight. He (Buchanan) was trying to survive it and see it out but it was a fairly easy fight to be fair.”

Lochend’s Stephen Tiffney, 24, defeated club team-mate and close friend Kevin Skey in the final of the 60kg bout 11-8, an experience he admitted was a tad unusual.

“It was a bit strange because I have never had to do that before,” Tiffney said. “We’ve trained together for years so it was different but when you get in there you just have to get on with it. I’ve boxed for nearly 13 years and have won Eastern District titles before, but this was the first time I’ve won it at 60kg.

“I’ll get back down to 56kg for the Scottish Championships in February; I want to do well in them and take it from there.”

There were further victories for Ryan McCutcheon of Clovenstone who overpowered Lochend’s Pushkar Singh 20-11 in their 52kg bout, and Heriot-Watt’s Brian Forsyth outfought Stevie Nicol 21-14 to claim the 81kg prize.