City boxers aim for 2011 title fights

Fighters Gareth Stemp, Gary McMillan and John McCallum all have their sights set on either Scottish or British title success.

Unbeaten bantamweight Stemp revealed: "I'm aiming for an all Edinburgh Scottish bantamweight title clash in a Capital boxing ring against my old Sparta amateur clubmate, Dave Cowan, who is also unbeaten.

"It would be a real grudge match as Cowan and I have some personal issues as to who is actually the best bantamweight prospect in Edinburgh.

"Also, Cowan is promoted by Glasgow promoter Tommy Gilmour while I'm guided by Gilmour's city rival Alex Morrison and we'd both bring our fans to ringside to make a great atmosphere.''

Meanwhile, Stemp's stablemate and British Master's welterweight champion McMillan, is on the cusp of fighting for a British title eliminator in 2011, according to his coach Terry McCormack, who was in the fighter's corner when he won his Masters title in November in Glasgow by beating former Commonwealth superfeatherweight champion Craig Docherty. McCormack said: "Gary has won fifteen fights and impressed against Docherty who was stopped inside the distance, so I fully expect him to fight an eliminator for the British welterweight title.

"I feel he is ready to step up the class of opponents that he fights; he has never punched harder than now and is working hard to build up his hitting power even more.''

Meanwhile, West Lothian boxing promoter, Paul Graham, has revealed equally ambitious plans for his unbeaten Edinburgh super-middleweight, McCallum, in the coming year.

"My plan is to get McCallum five wins in the early part of 2011 on the road before putting him on in an Edinburgh show challenging for the Scottish super-middleweight title.''

Meanwhile, Edinburgh super-middleweight British title contender Kenny Anderson's gallant loss to Londoner George Groves in November has cost him several places in the British ratings with Anderson now below Glenrothes rival Steve McGuire jnr. However, there is little chance of McGuire and Anderson clashing in the ring this year as McGuire's coach Steve McGuire confirmed: "Steve will be boxing as a lightheavyweight from now on."

"Gary has never punched harder and is working hard to build up his hitting power even more" terry mccormack