Ben Holme

Dear Members,

Boxing Scotland is delighted to share the results from our recent Membership Survey.

We had 120 respondees from all three Districts and from a cross section of the Membership, with Coaches, Officials, Club Committee members and Boxers all taking part.

We really value all of the feedback we have received – both good and bad – and the time members took out from their busy schedules to complete the Survey.

Results from the Membership Survey include;

• 82% of respondees thought that Boxing Scotland was doing a Very Good/Good or Average job overall.
• 76% of respondees had a Very Good/Good or Average experience in dealing with Boxing Scotland directly.
• 88% of respondees rated the opportunities for boxers registered to Boxing Scotland to compete as Very Good/Good or Average.

The above results show that a majority of members generally believe Boxing Scotland is doing a good job as the custodians of amateur boxing in Scotland, although also show there is room for improvement moving forward.

The Membership Survey also showed;

• 76% of respondees said that it was Extremely or Very Important for Scottish boxers to have a pathway to future Commonwealth or Olympic Games.
• 86% of respondees said that it was Extremely or Very Important for Scottish boxers to compete in future GB Championships.
• 87% of respondees said that it was Extremely or Very Important for Scottish boxers to be able to compete against boxers from England Boxing/Welsh Boxing.

There have been some very good suggestions and constructive feedback from the Membership and we will be discussing as a team how best to implement some of these suggestions moving into next season.

As always, we thank our member clubs for all their hard work during the 2023-24 season and look forward to working with clubs in the 2024-25 season.

Please see below the full results from the Boxing Scotland 2024 Membership Survey;

Boxing Scotland Membership Survey 2024

Regards,

Boxing Scotland

SCOTLAND’S Alex Arthur Jr says he is desperate to land his first British title in front of home support this weekend.

The reigning Scottish Elite Golden Gloves Light-Heavyweight champion is one of 26 Scots who have been selected for the GB Elite Three Nations Championships.

The best senior boxers from Scotland, England and Wales will face off on Saturday 22^nd & Sunday 23^rd June at Inveralmond Community High School in Livingston.

Edinburgh boxer Alex Jr is sure to be heavily supported at the event, as he looks to follow in the footsteps of Dad Alex Arthur Sr, who previously won amateur GB titles.

“It is like a home event and that gives me more motivation to win that Gold medal,” said Alex Jr.

“It would be amazing to win my first British title in Scotland.

“It would mean everything, it would be absolutely brilliant.

“It would be a great way to end the season.

“I’ve not lost a fight in my last six bouts and I feel like I have a good bit of momentum going now.

“I won my District title, then won the Scottish title – so to win the British would be a trio of titles, and it would be my first time round for each of them.”

It has been a stellar year so far for the boxer from AAA Boxing Academy, winning the Eastern District and Scottish National Championship.

The 22-year-old, who recently took part in training camps in Brighton and Belfast with the Boxing Scotland Performance team, believes he has improved a lot since his first attempt at the GB Elite Championships in Rotherham last year, where he collected a Bronze medal.

“I feel like I have grown into my man strength now and filled into the weight,” Alex Jr added.

“In the past 6-8 months everything has clicked into place and I have left no stone unturned going into the competition this weekend.

“I am confident that I will be coming away with a Gold medal for Scotland.

“The trips in the past year since the British have definitely levelled me up.

“Even when you come back from the trips and you are training back home, you think ‘I want to be as good as that guy I was training with – so next time I go on a trip I will be even better’.

“So it is about bettering yourself every time and I have had plenty of opportunities to do that.”

Not only does Alex Jr have the chance to win his first GB title, he also has the opportunity to be part of a record-breaking squad.

Team Scotland have already had 18 British champions crowned at GB Schools, Junior & Youth events in Cardiff and Nottingham this month.

The all-time record number of GB Three Nations champions at all age categories in one season for Boxing Scotland stands at 20, with the senior competition this weekend the final event of the season.

“I think three more Gold medals is a very little number for this team that we have got,” Alex Jr said regarding the chance to break the all-time GB Gold medal record for Scotland.

“I have been training with the guys on this team now for about two years and we have all progressed individually and together as a team.

“I am confident that all my teammates will be walking away with Gold medals and make history.”

Tickets can be purchased in advance of the event at the link below, priced at £20 per day for adults and £10 per day for Juniors. Alternatively, tickets can be purchased on the door of the event;

https://shop.ticketing.cm.com/gb-three-nations-elite-championships

Doors open at 11:30am each day, before the actions gets underway at Noon.

Dear Members,

Boxing Scotland is proud to serve as the only official and recognised National Governing Body (NGB) for Olympic-style boxing in Scotland.

As recognised by Commonwealth Games Scotland and GB Boxing, we are the only pathway for Scottish boxers to future Commonwealth and Olympic Games.

Boxing Scotland has compiled a ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ document with regards to our continued status as the only official NGB for amateur boxing in Scotland.

Boxing Scotland Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Regards,

Boxing Scotland

Boxing Scotland is devastated by the news of Willie Limond’s passing.

As well as being a formidable champion, Willie was a friend and colleague to us all at the High Performance Centre as a coach and mentor to the Elite Boxing Group.

Kevin Bell, Boxing Scotland Chair: “On behalf of us all at Boxing Scotland – and the boxing community as a whole – I send our deepest condolences to Willie’s family as they come to terms with this tragic news.

“Willie was one of Scotland’s most popular champions: a proud warrior who went toe-to-toe with the world’s best but who has gone far too soon.

“Recently, Willie had been a huge source of support and inspiration to our Elite Boxing Group, lending his time, experience and expertise to the next generation of boxers in Scotland.

“Willie’s achievements and legacy live on but his enthusiasm and passion for his sport will be sorely missed by all of us.

“Our sympathies are with Jake, Drew, Macy and rest of the Limond family at this incredibly difficult and sad time.”

Boxing Scotland Performance Director and National Coach Craig McEvoy added: “Not only was Willie a dear friend and a remarkable coach, he brought a different energy to the gym environment like nobody else.”

Willie was an accomplished amateur boxer and won Bronze for Team Scotland at the European Cadet Championships, which was a previous incarnation of the European Junior Championships, in Elazig, Turkey in 1995.

As a professional Willie boxed a number of future or former World champions such as Amir Khan and Erik Morales and was a British Light-Welterweight champion as well as a two-time Commonwealth champion.

BOXING Scotland is proud to announce that tickets are now available for the 2024 Scottish Elite Golden Gloves Finals.

The biggest yearly event in Scottish amateur boxing will take place on the evening of Saturday 13^th April as we crown the best Elite boxers in the country.

Tickets Live now! Boxing Scotland presents, Elite Golden Gloves Finals ‘The Next Generation’ – https://shop.ticketing.cm.com/golden-gloves-elite-finals/

There are 18 incredible Finals scheduled to take place at Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility in Motherwell, after four days of competition brought us to the final 36 boxers in the Elite Championships.

There are 11 reigning or former Scottish Elite champions included in the Finals, as they seek to win another Scottish Elite belt.

Excitingly there are also a number of ‘The Next Generation’ of young Scottish boxing stars who have reached the Elite Finals on their first attempt in the senior ranks.

It is an evening of boxing not to be missed – so jump on the link above where you can either book an inner or outer ringside table of 10, with food and drinks packages available, or book a bleacher or floor seat – all with great views of the action.

• Inner Ringside Table of 10 – £750
• Outer Ringside Table of 10 – £650
• Individual Bleacher or Floor Seat – £25

Don’t delay and secure your tickets now.

Scottish Elite Golden Gloves Finals, Saturday 13^th April 2024, Doors Open 6pm ’til Late.

Full finals list below; (Please note, this is not the Official Running Order of the event, that will follow in due course)

Male Finals;

48kg Minimumweight Final – Jaymie Swan (Linktown) vs Cameron Blades (Irvine Elite)

51kg Flyweight Final – Andrew Sneddon (Forgewood) vs Aqeel Ahmed (Keir Hardie)

54kg Bantamweight Final – Aaron Cullen (Renfrewshire) vs Andrew Meichan (Noble Art)

57kg Featherweight Final – Ewan Campbell (Glenrothes) vs Ryan Irwin (Glasgow City)

60kg Lightweight Final – Isa Akram (Rob Roy) vs Kyle McNeil (Priestfield)

63.5kg Light-Welterweight Final – Aurel Szilagyi (Lochend) vs Fawaz Aborode (Byron)

67kg Welterweight Final – Sonny Kerr (Byron) vs Matthew McDonald (Nightmare)

71kg Light-Middleweight Final – Luke Macfadyean (Barrhead) vs Jimmy Laing (Granite City)

75kg Middleweight Final – Alan Perrie (Doghouse) vs Fred Hannaway (Keir Hardie)

80kg Light-Heavyweight Final – Alex Arthur Jr (AAA) vs Josh Mullen (Springhill)

86kg Cruiserweight Final – Robert McNulty (Renfrewshire) vs Jack Swaney (Galashiels)

92kg Heavyweight Final – Connal McDonald (Bravehearts) vs David Nelson (Kingdom)

92+kg Super-Heavyweight Final – Nathan Tarr (Barrhead) vs Henoch Wakazadi (Boxer’s Booth)

Female Finals;

48kg Minimumweight Final – Darya Ogston (Cain) vs Brooke Neely (Irvine Vineburgh)

54kg Bantamweight Final – Sienna Thomson (Meadowbank) vs Stephanie Kernachan (Falkirk Phoenix)

60kg Lightweight Final – Dionne Polland (Icons) vs Niamh Hay (Meadowbank)

66kg Welterweight Final – Alishia Armstrong (Doonhamers) vs Caitlin Kelly (Antonine)

75kg Middleweight Final – Emma Miller (Highland Boxing Academy) vs Lauren McGowan (Barn)