New home for amateur boxers

Nov 13 2009 by Craig Robertson, Dumfries Standard Friday

Fighting fit

DUMFRIES Amateur Boxing Club has found a new home and the hunt is on for the regions next big star.

Officials from the club have spent the last few months completely reshaping the former Lucas electrical shop on the towns Annan Road into a modern boxing gym.

And, according to head coach Brian Morton, the club now wants to position itself as a major force in Scottish amateur boxing.

He told the Standard: Were really excited about this as people who are interested in boxing have really had nowhere like this in the region which has been dedicated to the sport.

We want to train boys for competitions at a national level and would hope we could aim to have them competing for selection for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

There have been Scottish champions from this area in the past so there is no reason why others cant compete at that level.

The club is affiliated with Amateur Boxing Scotland and Brian says officials have heaped praise on the new club after a recent visit.

Brian himself has had an excellent career in boxing, winning several championships in the past and recently returning from London where had been competing against some of the best.

And he believes his experience and that of ladies coach and development officer Lee Donaldson and club chairman Jim McInally, provides the best possible grounding for the club.

At the moment, we have about 25 members but can accommodate that again, he said.

Dumfries deserves to have a properly run boxing gym that can take it to the highest level.

Its not just a place for boxers to train as we have all types of sports people such as ice hockey players, and footballers who say the training helps with their overall fitness.

We are open to both men and women.

A lot sport in Dumfries and Galloway is held back because of a lack of proper facilities so we are looking forward to some real successes here now.

The new club will be official launched on Sunday at a 3pm event which is open to all who are interested in boxing.

Legendary British boxing champion Walter McGowan will be there at the launch with his coveted Lonsdale belt.