COACH TIPS DURIS TO BECOME RING KING
Hamilton’s Duris is tipped to be a champion
Hamilton boxer Kevin Duris has been tipped as a future champion by coach and promoter Francis Gilluley.
Duris (28) will feature in the Fighting Scots Gym’s Fight Night XII at the Alona Hotel in Strathclyde Park on Saturday, November 26, alongside a number of other fighters, and Gilluley hopes his man will start to make a name for himself.
Francis has 10 competitive fights and three junior exhibition matches lined up for the evening, which will see Blackridge’s Aidan Mcglynn and Bellshill pugilist Paul Brannen defending titles.
Chris Buchanan from Bellshill will also feature during the evening.
Francis says tickets are selling well for the always-popular bouts, and is looking forward to testing Kevin Duris against a worthy opponent, although that has yet to be determined.
He said: “We have 10 competitive fights and three junior exhibition matches, plus two fighters from Dundee and some guys coming up from England, so there will be something for everyone.
“These events are great, they generate a great crowd to support us, and it’s looking good.
“Ticket sales are going great, so we’re all looking forward to it and everybody is training hard.
“Kevin will be in the ring for the first time in a year, but he’s had seven fights, with six stoppages and one as a semi-professional.
“Kevin has reached a really good standard since he joined us, he’s been getting some really good sparring from semi-pro and pro boxers and he has learned a lot.
“His fitness is really coming on and he’s a great asset to the gym.
“Kevin is showing a lot of potential, we’ll see how he goes at this event, and we’ll get some fights lined up, but he will be chasing titles.
“In his last fight he won a Novice title, but a Celtic title will be next for him. He is absolutely a future champion, he has all the qualities, he trains hard and he’s a powerful puncher.”
Ahead of the Fight Night, Francis is bringing legendary fighter Larry Holmes to Dalziel Park in Motherwell for a Sportsman’s Dinner event on Thursday, November 17, and he says that can only help the gym.
Francis said: “Larry is one of the all-time greats and I don’t know how I’m going to top this one! I’m looking forward to it.
“We’ll get him in the gym and that’s great for all the young ones – he’s a great inspiration to them.
“We’ve had Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua in the gym this year, some real champions, which is unheard of.”