SCOTS FIGHT STARS HAVE COMMON AIM
SCOTLAND’S fight team for the Commonwealth Games have been backed to go out all guns blazing in their medal bid.
Coach Craig McEvoy has high hopes for the eight-strong team heading to Birmingham next month looking to emulate former Games stars such as Josh Taylor, Charlie Flynn and Joe Ham.
Sam Hickey, Reese Lynch, Matthew McHale, Stephen Newns, Tyler Jolly, Lennon Mulligan, Sean Lazzerini and Megan Reid will fly the flag and McEvoy predicts a battle of Britain.
He said: “They are going to be brave, bold and at their best. They will need to be.
“England, as the host nation, will be the biggest threat and that’s where they will have to be bold and go and get the result.
“They are great ambassadors for the sport and they produce exciting performances. Some of their recent performances have been worthy of a sellout crowd at the Hydro.
“They have technique, skill and tactics but every one of them is willing to go out on their shield if they have to. There is a real belief among them.”
McEvoy’s squad – who train together with Boxing Scotland in Glasgow – have been guided by bigname coaches including three-weight world champ Ricky Burns, plus major belt winners Willie Limond and Stevie Simmons.
McEvoy said: “I have never seen a more tightknit Scottish team.
“At competitions and events, they are out there, cheering each other on from the sidelines.
“There is camaraderie among them, a balance of
personalities and a real competitive edge – they push each other on during training sessions.
“This is the first time where we are taking a team of almost full-time athletes, who are training with us four or five days a week in the High Performance Programme.
“They are also surrounded by the best in Scotland.
“I have to credit the coaching team that we have in place.
“We now have Willie Limond here, Ricky Burns, Stevie Simmons, Mike Keane, Neil Clark, Ian McDonald and Gordon Brennan, who bring vast experience at every level of boxing.
“We couldn’t have a better group of people in place. Everyone has their say, everyone has an opinion and each of them has the perfect character and temperament for working with young and talented athletes.”