Following in my father’s footsteps
Cleland welterweight boxer Stephen Newns is ready to plunder the land down under for gold.
The 20-year-old has just returned from a gruelling 10-day training camp in Ukraine to get fight-sharp as he eyes up bringing home a medal for Scotland.
And the Scottish Championship title holder will be following in the footsteps of his coach and father Stephen Newns Snr, who was a Team Scotland coach at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.
Buzzing Stephen said: “I can’t wait to get out there. Time has absolutely flown in since the team was announced.
“I remember sitting in the gym when I was about eight or nine, watching the 2006 Games on TV knowing my dad was there.
“So to be able to follow his lead and go over there and box myself is just magic. It’s a dream come true.”
The young scrapper jets out to Brisbane tomorrow for another two-week training camp before the boxing starts in earnest on April 5 – the day after the opening ceremony.
He is confident his preparation will help him in his ultimate goal to bring back a medal for his country.
“Team Scotland had a 10-day training camp in Ukraine which was brilliant. We’ve all grown up competing together and all made good friends over the years,” said Stephen.
“We sparred against some of Ukraine’s best boxers which was perfect preparation.
“I’m the number one welterweight in Scotland, I proved that when I won the Scottish Championship last April at the Ravenscraig, so I know I can win. I know I can bring back a medal.”
Stephen is joined in the squad by two Motherwell boxers – Reece McFadden and Aqeel Ahmed – who have already tasted Commonwealth action, at Glasgow 2014. He has already picked their brains to make sure he is as prepared as possible for his medal shot, which he hopes can propel him on the same path as up-andcoming star Josh Taylor, who won gold at Glasgow.
“The main thing they’ve told me is to enjoy myself and believe in myself,” Stephen said.
“I’ll be staying in the athletes village which will be different, being with other athletes and not just boxers.
“I’d obviously love to follow in Taylor’s footsteps. His gold medal and the path he’s taken afterwards, and the way he boxes and goes about his training, is just inspirational. I want that to be me next.”
Proud dad Stephen Snr can’t wait to see his boy in action and said he will be proud of him whatever happens in the ring.
He added: “The preparation he has done is brilliant and this is a reward for all the sacrifices he’s made.
“He’s got high expectations but if he gets a gold medal or not, I’ll still be delighted for him.
“I’m just humbled and bursting with pride. I’ve coached him all his life and this just proves that with hard work dreams do come true.”