Lochaber Phoenix Boxing Club was well represented at the Boxing Scotland Development Championships held at Ravenscraig sports centre, Motherwell, over two weekends.
Three of the Lochaber team, Kyle McDonald, aged 13; Daniel Millar, 15, and Josh Parton, 16, were making their debut bouts, with Jamie Douglas, 17, having taken part in previous years.
On the first Saturday of the tournament, Kyle was first Lochaber boxer in the ring where he faced Aberdeen Cain boxer Bobby Joe Johnston, both at 44kgs.
Kyle started his first round working well behind his jab and showing good boxing skills. In round two, the strong Aberdeen boxer came in to the bout and won the match on points.
Daniel Millar, at 75kgs, met Joshua Doyle, Duries Boxing Club, Glasgow, and started the round aggressively. He pushed his opponent back and showed great head
movement and clearly won the round.
Daniel started the second round on the front foot, showing confidence to win the round comfortably again with nice clear straight punches. In the third, he began to tire a little but did enough to win and gain a place in the final a week later.
Josh Parton, 67kgs, took on Fraser Stewart of Renfrewshire Boxing Club. Starting on the front foot, Josh threw some nice combinations to take the round.
The Renfrewshire boxer switched tactics to take the second and continued at the same pace in the third to win on a split decision.
Weekend two saw Daniel Millar in his final against Marquis Foster from Icons Boxing Club, Glasgow, with the Lochaber lad starting off in a similar vein as his semi-final.
However, the Glasgow boxer was just spoiling for action up close and Daniel was unable to land cleanly.
Daniel started a lot better in round two and, in what could only be descried as a scrappy round, came out on top.
With all to go for in round three, Daniel’s opponent continued to spoil and grapple
causing Daniel to lose his way in another scrappy round. He was beaten on a 2-1 split decision, coming away with silver for his efforts.
Jamie Douglas, the last Lochaber man standing, faced Billy Currie of Keir Hardie Boxing Club at 63.5kgs.
Jamie started fast, matching Currie for accuracy in nearly every combination, and finished the round strongly.
In round two, the Keir Hardie boxer started on the front foot but Jamie matched him, showing tremendous skill and good technique. It was so close that no-one could call it.
The third round saw both boxers go for it in another nip and tuck round but Currie
got his arm raised at the end in a split decision with Jamie taking silver.
Lochaber Phoenix head coach Vince Lopez said: “Jamie was unlucky with the
decision because it could have gone either way. It’s the best we have seen Jamie box in the Lochaber colours. All the boys did really well considering they were making their debuts at such a huge tournament. Everyone in the club is very proud of them all.”
There will be a chance to see all the boxers in action when Lochaber Phoenix Boxing Club holds it 11/11 Fight Night Show in the Nevis Centre on Saturday November 11. Tickets are on sale now.
Photograph: Jamie Douglas, left, and Daniel Millar who each brought home a silver medal from the Boxing Scotland National Development Championships. Photograph: Iain Ferguson, alba.photos. NO_F43_LochaberPhoenixBoxingClub_23_JamieDouglas_DanielMillar 01/02