Boxing coach Archie Durie hailed his 30th home show as the best event ever, as a capacity crowd enjoyed a night of entertainment at Hampden Park on Saturday.
Of the 20 Durie’s Boxing Club fighters taking part in the evening at the national stadium’s Lomond Suite, seven made their debut.
Rutherglen fighter Gary Wilson, 11, beat Aaron Wards of Argo BC in a 39kgs fight, the judges scoring an unanimous 5-0 decision in favour of the Durie’s boxer, with both youngsters making their debut.
Kayla Lynch, 12, from Castlemilk, won every round and forced a standing eight-count on Inverness’ Maria Cameron in their 41kgs bout.
Winning by unanimous decision, Kayla was also voted best home boxer by the judges on the night.
Another convincing win was recorded by Cambuslang 15-year-old Rehan Farid, who beat Jayden Sanjeet of Edinburgh’s McTaggart and Scott by unanimous decision.
Franky Manson, 14, from Castlemilk, won his 54kg fight by unanimous decision.
Duries’ first defeat of the evening came when Edinburgh boxer Lachlan Ross of Royal ABC fought back to beat Cambuslang’s Michael McMillan in their 54kg fight by taking rounds two and three, after the home fighter had started well.
Lucas Ewan, 13, from Castlemilk, got the night back on track with a close-fought 3-2 split decision against Dundee’s Lochee BC fighter Oliver Jackson.
Jamie Durie lost his 62kg fight against North Glasgow BC’s Talha Talha by unanimous decision, having been also deducted a point for holding late in the third round.
Five others were involved in skills bouts in front of the capacity 360 crowd.
The first two skills bouts were between 10-year-old Danyal Khan and Adam Khan, who is 11; and Mohamadean Khan, 10, and 12-year-old Josh McSorley.
Castlemilk lad Ross McNeil came up against Blantyre BC’s George Hamilton in a 48kgs exhibition match.
The second half of the show saw mixed results for the Rutherglen club.
Some heavy hits from Kilsyth boxer Dean Miller forced head coach Archie Durie to throw in the towel in the second round to prevent injury to Cambuslang 15-year-old William Lafferty in his 55kg fight, with a standing eight-count in the first round.
Cambuslang’s Jay Stewart, 16, lost by unanimous decision in his 54kg fight against McTaggart and Scott’s Connor Anderson, who was voted best away boxer by the judges.
A 4-1 split decision saw Reece McFarlane lose his senior 67kg bout against McTaggart and Scott’s Conner McLeod.
But a 3-2 split decision went Durie’s way in the next bout, as Rizwan Sherwan beat Edinburgh Royal ABC’s Lucas Gibbons in their 71kgs contest.
Bluebell BC’s Luiz Bardelli got a 4-1 decision against 18-year-old Darren Bradley in their 81kgs fight.
But Abe Renton from East Kilbride narrowly came out on top after going toe-to-toe with Ryan Taylor from EK BC in their 63.5kg fight, taking it on a 3-2 split decision.
A packed Durie’s crowd were then surprised to see Mo Nawa lose by unanimous decision despite pressing his opponent back for the three rounds n his 64kg fight.
The headline fight saw Kyle McNeil fight Easterhouse Phoenix’s Ryan Taylor for the vacant 64kg elite Western District title in a 3x3 minute fight.
McNeil, 22, started slowly, but came back with a unanimous decision to take the title.
Coach Archie Durie said: “That was our 30th ever event and it’s came a long way since our first show in St Collumbkille’s church halls around 12 years ago.
“The venue in Hampden Park was brilliant, we had 360 people enjoy a first-class night’s boxing in which I would say was our best event ever.
“There were around seven kids making their debuts at Hampden, a memory they will never forget, and best home boxer of the night was Kayla Lynch.
“I’ve said before, she is going places in boxing, she is a special talent.
“The kids look up to Kyle McNeil and he played a real captain’s role, winning the 64kg title, and he is a great role model for the boxers.
“I would like to thank all our sponsors on the night, and the people who helped make our 30th event a special one.”
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