SCOTLAND’S Sam Hickey will have his first bout since claiming Commonwealth Games Gold when he competes in the Bocskai Memorial Tournament in Hungary tomorrow.
The Lochee boxer, who turned 23 last month, will be the first Scot to compete internationally in 2023 when he takes part in the competition in Debrecen this week.
Hickey will box Kyrgyzstan’s Uulu Omurbek Bekzhigit in an 80kg Round of 16 contest, with both boxers having received a bye in the Round of 32 in last night’s draw.
It will be his first contest since his triumph over Australia’s Callum Peters in the Middleweight Final in Birmingham last summer, where he was one of three boxing Gold medal winners for Team Scotland at the Commonwealth Games alongside Reese Lynch and Sean Lazzerini.
However, this time the Dundonian will be stepping into the ring a bit heavier, after spending the past six months moving up to the Light-Heavyweight division.
The move was promoted due to the Middleweight category being removed for the Paris 2024 Olympics, with the full-time GB Squad member aiming to become just the second Scot in 30 years, after Josh Taylor, to qualify for an Olympic Games.
“I am not too fussed, I will fight anybody,” Hickey said about moving up from 75kg to 80kg.
“Bringing myself out of my comfort zone a wee bit by moving up in weight I think is going to be good for me.
“I am going to be a lot faster than these guys and I have so much skill.
“I just need to bring that into this new weight and show everyone that they can’t keep up with the pace and skillset together.”
