Michael boxing clever
Youngster tipped for top
He was very quiet and quite shy, but now you can see the confidence coming through Andy Clayton
A young Cambuslang boxer is being tipped for the top by his coaches after a golden performance in a recent tournament.
And the training team at O’Neil’s boxing club admit they have been taken aback by Michael O’Neil’s success – as he was so quiet when he first laced up the gloves. The Trinity High pupil, 12, took gold at the Scottish Novice Championships last month, less than 18 months after he threw his first punch. Coach Andy Clayton is hoping that is just the start for the promising youngster. He said: “For a wee boy who walked in the door just over a year ago with no experience to win three fights and come away with a gold medal is some achievement. “He’s a great kid who has done all the hard work himself. He’s the sort of boy that works very hard at everything he does. “Sometimes a kid comes into the gym and straight away you know he’s going to be a good boxer, but Michael wasn’t like that.
“He was very quiet and quite shy, but now you can see the confidence coming through.”
Ironically, for a quiet youngster, Michael is fearless once he steps into the squared circle.
“He’s very aggressive, so in these championships we had him boxing to his strengths.
“We are trying to develop his technique now and he can be a good boxer – he has a lot of potential.”
Michael’s mum Elaine admitted she was taken aback by her son’s interest in the sport but has been thrilled at how quickly he has taken to it.
She told the Reformer: “He’s not been that sporty before – he’d play football because every boy played it, but it wasn’t something he was passionate about.
“Then his friend asked him if he wanted to go to the boxing club, and I thought that could be good for his self-defence.
“He has become so disciplined about his weight, and keeping fit, and I realised he was taking this seriously.”
A delighted Elaine added: “He’s come out of his shell at the club, they’ve been brilliant and it was great when he won the gold – I was so proud.”
Next year will see Michael compete in the Scottish Open and also the Box Cup in Penrith.