Meadowbank set for feast of boxing

Scotland v Wales Bring Back Boxing Home International

• Louise Mitchell becomes the first woman to box internationally for Scotland in Scotland
•  Josh Taylor returns to the ring for the first time since winning silver at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games
• Scotland Commonwealth boxers Joe Ham and Ashton Brown take on English opposition
• Scotland’s Youth’s and Juniors square up against a strong Welsh selection

This Saturday professional chef Louise Mitchell will make history by being the first woman to step into the ring and box for Scotland. Women’s boxing will make it’s debut as an Olympic sport at the 2012 London Olympics.

Louise is part of the Scotland squad to face Wales in the third of a series of four Bring Back Boxing Home Internationals. The events are organised to give young Scottish boxing talent the opportunity to develop their skills and gain much needed experience against top class international opposition.

As a last minute coup,  2010 Commonwealth Games silver medallist Josh Taylor has been added to the bill when he steps in to the ring for the first time since taking silver in the light weight division. The 19 year old from Prestonpans will face Wales’ Mitch Buckland in what promises to be a grandstand finish to an outstanding day of amateur boxing at Meadowbank Stadium.

Josh will be joined by Commonwealth team mates Joe Ham and Aston Brown both of the Renfrewshire Boxing Club in Paisley. They’ll be hoping to build on their international experience by taking on two English Olympic hopefuls. Joe Ham will meet Leeds boxer Qais Ashfaq and Aston Brown will take on Tommy Langford. These bouts are the tip of the iceberg in a day of boxing that sees 13 of Scotland’s brightest boxing prospects take on their opposite numbers from Wales.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s Bring Back Boxing International, Amateur Boxing Scotland Chairman Richard Thomas said; ‘Louise’s debut is a milestone for the sport in Scotland. More and more women are taking up boxing and Louise is proof that woman’s boxing in Scotland is an important part of our organisation’s development. The Bring Back Boxing Home Internationals are an excellent opportunity for Louise, Scottish youth boxers and last years Commonwealth stars to get the international experience necessary to compete at ever higher levels of the sport.’

Listing Details

Scotland v Wales Bring Back Boxing Home International

(featuring Commonwealth Games Silver Medallist Josh Taylor, Commonwealth Games boxers Aston Brown and Joe Ham and Scotland’s first international woman boxer Louise Mitchell)

Saturday 15th Jan, Meadowbank Stadium

Doors open at 12 midday. First bout 1pm

Tickets: £10 adults, £5 Senior Citizens, Children

Tickets Hotline 0131 661 5351 or online at www.amateurboxingscotland.ticketsource.co.uk

For further information please contact Owen O’Leary at Oh Really Creative Solutions on 07815 992658 or email owen@ohreally.co.uk and visit www.amateurboxingscotland.co.uk

Notes to editors:

1. Full Home Bring Back Boxing International dates are:

Scotland v England 11^th Dec 2010

Scotland v Sweden 18^th Dec 2010

Scotland v Wales 15^th Jan 2011

Scotland v Northern Ireland 22^nd Jan 2011

1. The line up for Scotland v Wales is:

Juniors

Born 1996

52kg Liam Tervert (Lochend ABC) v Jared Jones (Wales)

Born 1995

46kg Rees Mcfadden (Forgewood ABC) v Jack Parry (Wales)

46kg Brandon Singh (Kingdom) v Robbie Vernon (Wales)

48kg Paul Morrison (Greenock) v Monty Lee (Wales)

52kg Craig Mcintyre (Dennistoun ABC) v Jamie Viscount (Wales)

54kg Sam Ball (Greenock ABC) v Luca Dragoni (Wales)

60kg Danny Tarling (Kelty ABC) v Aled Cook (Wales)

Born 1994

52kg Declan McCusker (Barn, Coatbridge) v Owen Williams (Wales)

57kg Mark McKeown (Barn, Coatbridge) v Ben Crocker (Wales)

57kg Robbie McKechnie (Greenock ABC) v Nathan Flanagan (Wales)

Coaches – Bert McShane, Laurie Redfern, Sam Mullen

Youths

Born 1993

64kg Martin McCord (Doonvalley ABC) v Luke Fleming (Wales)

56kg Bryce Stewart (Zetland ABC, Grangemouth) v Sam Baker (Wales)

56kg Ryan Collins (irvineburgh) v Kazim Ghani (Wales)

First Ever Female International Clash

60kg Louise Mitchell (Scotland) v Charlene Jones (Wales)

Josh Taylor’s return from India

64kg Josh Taylor (Commonwealth Silver Medallist) v Mitch Buckland (Wales)

Coaches – Mike Keane,Tony Kerr,Raymond Gibson,Jack Grahem

Top of the Bill Bouts featuring English opposition

Joe Ham (Renfrewshire) v Qais Ashfaq (England)

Aston Brown (Renfrewshire) v Tommy Langford (England)