81kg Aleksandre Dokvadze GEO v Scott Forrest SCO
Tonight in Yerevan, Armenia, a feat was accomplished by a Scottish boxer that is difficult to describe in words – Scott Forrest, Team Scotland’s 81kg representative, defeated the World Number 1 Aleksandre Dokvadze to reach the final of the 2012 AIBA World Youth Championship. In what can only be described as a magnificent performance, Scott Forrest has just catapulted himself and Scottish boxing into the world’s elite of amateur boxing.
The first round saw Dokvadze come out all guns blazing, as if his tactic was to overawe Scott and put him on the back foot straight away – but the Georgian could not have prepared for Scott ‘Braveheart’ Forrest. Scott weathered the initial storm with the steely composure he has displayed throughout the competition. Once the Georgian realised the durability of Scott, he soon eased off his attack which Scott infiltrated immediately. Boxing cleverly at long range, closing the gap with quick feet and delivering clinical uppercuts on the inside, Scott took the momentum early on and sustained it throughout the round. The score at the end of the first round; 3 – 4 to Scott.
Scott then started controlling the gears of the contest in the second, provoking the World Number 1 with effective dummy’s before setting up his ruthless attacks. Dokvadze showed his strengths also, but any threat shown was soon neutralised by Scott’s tactical prowess. Remarkably again, at no point did it look like the bout could slip away from Scott, with the round ending 6 – 8 in favour of the Scotsman.
The third and final round portrayed both the physical and mental courage Scott Forrest has inside him, with blood streaming from his nose and a small cut under his eye forcing the referee to signal the doctor to assess the Scottish boxer. With just over a minute to go in the contest, Scott could be seen telling the doctor the injuries would not hamper him finishing the contest. Like a true warrior, Scott battled through adversity and pain – he would not leave that boxing ring until he was the victor. The old saying ‘pain lasts for seconds, pride lasts for ever’ echoed out from the lad from Forth in the vest of Scotland. Ironically, as if the adversity had given Scott a new lease of life, Scott found holes in his opponents defence right up until the final bell. When the final bell rang, Team Scotland knew there could be only one winner. As the referee raised Scott’s hand, the look on Scott’s face could not be duplicated – he had just beaten the World Number 1 by 6 points to win the contest 7 – 13.
Scott is now in the World Championship final tomorrow evening, facing the local favourite Nikol Arutyunov from Armenia.
Scott feels extremely proud that the whole of the Amateur boxing family in Scotland will be rooting for him – WELL DONE FOR A REMARKABLE PERFORMANCE SCOTT!!!!
