Boxing: Paulin and Atkin out to give Meadowbank double glory

The Amateur Boxing Scotland Senior Championships Finals at Meadowbank tonight offer 12 exciting bouts ranging from flyweight to super-heavyweight – and ringside fans might also see history made.

Should Meadowbank lightweight duo Lewis Paulin and Katy Atkin win their respective 60kg finals, it will be the first time one club has held both male and female Scottish titles at the same weight.

Southpaw Paulin, who has already won Eastern and Intermediate titles this season, is confident he can cause an upset by beating favourite Charlie Flynn, from Newarthill.

“Flynn is already a Commonwealth Games silver medallist and British champion but form-wise I’m on fire just now so I’m confident I can win the Scottish title as well,’’ said Paulin.

Meanwhile, Meadowbank coach Mark Geraghty believes Atkin can grab the women’s lightweight title against the Kilmarnock-based North West club’s Jacqueline Ralston.

He said: “Ralston comes from a very successful kickboxing background and will be a tough opponent but I think Atkin’s far greater traditional boxing experience will be decisive.”

Two Holyrood boxers, light-heavyweight Brian Forsyth and heavyweight David Smylie are heavily touted to win Scottish titles. Forsyth faces James Cunningham from the Dennistoun McNair club, while Smylie, already a winner of University, Intermediate and Eastern titles this year, takes on Steven Lavelle from Renfrewshire.

Leading the Lochend quest for glory are bantamweight Pushker Singh, who goes head-to-head with Garnock Valley rival Martin Beveridge and, at light-welterweight, Lochend’s eastern 64kg champion Lewis Benson clashes with Barrhead’s Steven Rae.