Boxers punch above their weight

THE lights dimmed, a lone piper played, and the crowd cheered. It was another superb night of boxing at Hawick Town Hall.
Fight fans turned up in their droves to see Hawick ABS Thinkfitness pugilists take on fighters from the rest of Scotland. The bill conjured up some exciting bouts. Indeed, it was amateur boxing at its very best.

All the boxers were piped into the ring by Cammy Renwick, and Waverley footballer Ian Hope proved a very efficient MC.

First Hawick boxer to enter the ring was youngster Sean Gentleman, who took on Josh Rodgers of Leith Victoria. After a quiet opening, Gentleman got into full swing and went on to gain a points victory.

Next to wear the Hawick vest was the highly-promising Rory Gillies, who was in the opposite corner to Meadowbank's Sean Swanny. Gillies recently outpointed Swanny to win the Eastern District Championship and this return clash was just as much of a thriller.

Showing class and style as well as a whirlwind last-round finish in which he caught Swinny with excellent punches that resulted in the Edinburgh fighter taking a standing count, Gillies went on to gain another points victory.

Gillies told the Hawick News: "I was very nervous and excited before the fight, but as soon as the bell went, I felt better. The other boy was a very good boxer, and I knew I would have to box really well to beat him again.

"I wasn't sure if I had won or not and was really pleased when the MC said I had won."

In a thrilling clash with Alexander Miller of Dunfermline, Hawick's Scott Grant impressed in the first round. Grant was caught by good punches in the second, but with Miller tiring in the third, Grant came back strongly. However, victory went to the Fifer on points.

Representing Hawick, James Berry caught his opponent Steven Laing of Glenboig with a powerful punch right at the start of round one. Berry also had Laing in trouble in the third, but it was the latter who emerged the victor on points.

Making his ring debut, Jamie Amos of the Hawick club made it a winning one, by out-pointing his opponent from Glenboig. Urged on by a big following, Amos fought well. Nursing a staved thumb after his fight, Amos said: "I didn't think I had won it. When the fight finished I was just pleased that I got through it. It was a bit of a surprise when I got the verdict, but it was a nice surprise."

In a battle of the heavyweights, Hawick's Davie Paterson clashed with Ross Henderson from Springhall. Giving away greater height and reach to the towering Henderson, Paterson tried hard to mix it with his giant counterpart. The bout, however, only lasted a round as Paterson picked up an injury, and the referee stopped the fight.

John Scott put victory Hawick's way by defeating Leith Victoria's Darren Yorkston. A fighter who always gives his all, Scott showed up well in a very close fight for a points win.

Although busy throughout the three rounds and throwing plenty of punches, Hawick fighter Wattie Hogg was outpointed by Stuart Vass of Forthside.

Hogg performed well and was a little unfortunate to be on the wrong end of the decision.

He told us: "I felt I had done enough to win, and I am a bit disappointed. Maybe I tried too hard, but it was in front of my home crowd and I really wanted to try and knock the other guy out. If I had concentrated more on my boxing I might have done better. However, I can learn from this."

Hawick's Scott Mackay was also narrowly beaten on points. Facing Midlothian's Scott Freeman, Mackay put up a fine show.

Commenting on his bout, Mackay said: "It could have gone either way, as it was a really close fight. I thought I might have got it in the last round, though."

Sean Allison, another up-and-coming prospect of the Hawick club, boxed an exhibition match with Scottish heavyweight champion Michael Warner of Springhall.

Home club president Eddie Brogan said: "The standard of boxing was very high. The fights were all extremely even and close, which is a great credit to our coach Billy Finn, who did the match-making.

"The Hawick boys fought exceptionally well and this was great to see. Putting on a tournament like this takes a tremendous amount of work, but thanks to guys like Billy Finn, John Sharkey, Stuart Oliver, Alan Brown, Stuart Sharkey, Davie Paterson, Stuart Bell, Davie Hush, Hamish Brandon and Alistair Lowrie, the show was a success."




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