Former world champion and Scottish boxing legend Ricky Burns was in Elgin Amateur Boxing Club schoolboy Marcus McEwan's corner when he won a British tri-nations silver medal
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Coached by Scottish boxing legend Ricky Burns, a Moray teenager is aim to fight his way up the ranks.
Marcus McEwan (15) represented Scotland for the first time at last week’s Tri-Nations Championships at Motherwell and missed out on his first British title when he was defeated by an experienced English opponent.
The Forres Academy pupil has already won Scottish schoolboy and novice titles as well as this year’s Golden Gloves Championships, making him the best 70kg boxer in his age category in the country.
His victory earned a place in the Scotland team last week, where he was coached by Burns, the first Scot to win world titles at three different weights during an impressive 53-fight career.
“There were two Scotland coaches in charge of us and Ricky Burns was in my corner,” McEwan said. “I did a bit of pads with him before this fight and it was a pretty cool experience having him in my corner.
“He does quite a lot in the Scotland gym, trying to develop young boxers. Hopefully I’ll get to work with him again.”
Burns is one of only three British professional boxers to be a world champ at three divisions. He won the WBO super-featherweight title in 2010 and the lightweight crown two years later, before landing the WBA light-welterweight belt in 2016.
The Scottish hero couldn’t quite inspire Elgin Amateur Boxing Club prospect McEwan to become a British champ, as he lost over three rounds of two minutes against John Joe Corrigan, a five-time English champ who will fight for his country at the European Championships this year.
It was McEwan’s first defeat in nine competitive bouts in a career which only began 18 months ago with the Jacobite (Nairn) club.
“I was slightly nervous going into this one,” he said. “I didn’t really know what I was going to get but I knew it was a tough opponent.
“He was older than me and he’s had 32 more fights than I have and only lost twice. It was definitely the highest level of opponent I’ve had and my hardest fight, but one I was happy to get. And I would say I gave him a good fight.”
McEwan is aiming to retain his Golden Gloves title next season and return to the Tri Nations in Wales next year, where he is determined to go one better and claim the gold medal.
He was one of two Elgin ABC boxers representing Scotland as Golden Gloves champions. Lukas Vaitekunas had to settle for a bronze medal after losing in the male 80kg semi-final to England’s Willie Loveridge on a split decision.
This Sunday, Elgin ABC stage their annual show at Bishopmill Hall, with doors open at 1.30pm for an event showcasing the best of boxing talent in Moray.
The club has produced countless national champs over the years, led by head coach Paul ‘Ratch’ Gordon.
McEwan is one club boxer who won’t be in action this weekend , as he has been fighting over four consecutive weekends and has picked up a wrist injury.
