Boxing: Taylor beats bug and his rival in ring

PRESTONPANS’ Olympic hopeful Josh Taylor won an epic struggle on two fronts last night at St Andrew’s Sporting Club in Glasgow as he outpointed Liverpudlian lightweight Robbie Davies to give Scotland a 3-2 victory over England in an amateur boxing international match.

Southpaw Taylor won by 11-7 on points despite suffering illness which required him to take a course of antibiotics pre-fight.

Lochend coach Terry McCormack said: “Given his pre-bout struggle to get fit, Josh has shown he has the bottle to match his great ring talents. We’re all proud of him at the Lochend club.’’

However, Lochend light-welterweight Lewis Benson was critical of his own performance even though he lost his bout by a single countback point, 16-15, after taking his English ring rival Tabs Simmamande to the wire as they drew 12-12 initially on the judge’s scorecards.

“You could argue that being that close the verdict could have gone either way but, to be honest I didn’t box as well as I did in November’s Eastern championships,” said Benson. “However, I aim to make up for it on Saturday at Meadowbank in the Scottish Championships.’’

Meanwhile, Fauldhouse welterweight Scott Forrest also lost narrowly on points to his English opponent.