Boxing: Lewis Benson edges closer

The 21-year-old faces Andrew Mackay from Inverness on Saturday for a place in next month’s final. Victories over Alan Anderson of Heriot-Watt and close friend Sean Spence of Meadowbank have moved Benson one step closer to a second national title.

Benson said: “I boxed really well over the weekend. I was very technical so am happy with how things went. I am really confident I will retain my title but I have a job to do this weekend first in the semi-final. I haven’t lost a round so far and this can only stand me in good stead.

“Outside the ring Sean and I are best friends and he is a cracking boy who has been very unlucky. He’s been there or there abouts the last few years so having to face him was quite tough to be honest.”

Should Benson progress to the final on March 29, the 64kg title will produce a champion from the Capital as Craigmillar’s Jason Easton and Heriot-Watt’s Chris Givan contest the second semi-final. Benson is, however, just one of six from the Lochend club who have progressed into the penultimate stage of the competition with Pushkar Singh (52kg), Kevin Skey, Stephen Tiffney (both 56kg), and Tommy Philbin and World Series Boxing star Aston Brown (both 75kg) underlining the club’s strength at this level.

Benson added: “I’d love to fight either of them as Jason and I have had four fights and it’s 2-2, and Chris Givan had a controversial win over me last September. It was a great weekend for the club so Terry  (McCormack) was over the moon. All the boys who were beaten lost to current Scottish champions so it was a great performance by everyone.”

Heriot-Watt’s Brian Forsyth secured his place in the 81kg semi-final with a 20-14 defeat of Steven Nicol of Lochend and Meadowbank’s Owen Spence beat Jamie Glover of Glasgow Phoenix at 69kg to reach the semi-finals. Clovenstone’s Ryan McCutcheon received a bye into the last four at 52kg.