NICHOLAS FLIES FLAG
Young O’Neil’s boxer aiming for Euro glory in Russia
It will be a case of ‘ From Russia With Gloves’ for young Cambuslang boxer Nicholas Devlin this week.
The 14-year-old fighter from O’Neil’s is heading out to Russia with the Scottish National team to represent his country in the European Championships.
It’s a major honour for the Cathkin High pupil, who will be up against the finest young boxers the continent has to offer.
It comes at the end of a fantastic week for O’Neil’s, who scooped a hattrick of gongs at the Scottish Novice Championships over the weekend, the biggest boxing event in the Scottish calendar.
Nicholas’s coach, Stephen McLaughlin, said: “His coaches his friends and family, and I’m sure, all of Scotland would like to wish him and all the Scotland boxing team the very best of luck.”
O’Neil’s had four boxers in action at Motherwell’s Ravenscraig Sports Centre over the weekend in the Novice. Shaun McDonald (12) lost out at the semi-final stage on Saturday.
But on the same day Danny McMurray (13), a pupil at Stonelaw, picked up the 63kg schoolboy title.
The next day, Cathkin pupil Robbie Cruickshank (15) took the 60kg title in what was a hard fought final.
And the club’s 20- year- old Paul Murphy left the judges in no doubt with a clear points win to take the senior 64kg boxing title.
Stephen said: “These boys have all worked very hard to earn these titles.
“Young Shaun tried his best but was up against a very good opponent and it just wasn’t to be for him on the day.
“However, the other three boys have been amazing throughout the tournament and to come out with three gold medals from four boxers is a great achievement.”