Forres Academy pupil Marcus McEwan (16) adds north district boxing title to his Golden Gloves gold medals and Scotland international bouts

Moray boxer Marcus McEwan wants a British international gold medal next year to add to his Scottish and north titles.

The 16-year-old Forres Academy pupil, who competes for Elgin Amateur Boxing Club, recently won his first north district title when he claimed the 75kg (middleweight) crown in Dundee.

He defeated Granite City’s Laju Rowaniyor, a close rival who McEwan also beat to lift the Boxing Scotland Golden Gloves crown earlier this year.

“The first fight I found a little bit easier than this one, it was quite tough,” he said.

“I don’t think I performed as well in the north districts and he definitely improved but they were both good fights.

“I thought I had done better work in the second and third rounds, it wasn’t as good in the first. I came into the fight and I was trying to look at too much stuff instead of keeping it simple.”

As well as taking the north and Golden Gloves titles this year, McEwan represented Scotland at the GB internationals for the second year running, shortly after sitting his exams.

Having won silver in 2022, he had to settle for bronze in Cardiff in June after losing to the Welsh boxer who went on to claim the British title.

“He won it with a unanimous against me. I’ve been happy enough with my boxing, but I had been thinking about the GB international the whole year and I went in and didn’t box my best, so I was a bit down about that.”

Guided by Elgin ABC head coach Paul ‘Ratch’ Gordon, the Kintessack-based boxer plans to put some work in at the gym over the summer in his quest to develop his skills.

“We are working on things now because it’s kind of the off season. I know that if I had done a few things differently (in Cardiff), the outcome could have been better.

“It has given me something to work on, one or two weak points. You learn from these defeats.”

McEwan also won the Golden Gloves last year, competing at 70kg (light middleweight) as he did in the GB international for his silver medal.

“It’s an honour to represent Scotland and hopefully I can go back next year and win the gold.”

McEwan also attends Boxing Scotland weekend camps in Glasgow, working with the governing body’s top coaches.

“I enjoyed that. You learn a lot and it’s a good thing to be involved with,” he added.

“Ratch says I need to keep training hard and as I get more experience I will get better, and I will keep winning more things.

“I want to get into the senior stages in boxing now, my next challenge. You don’t have to wear the head guards and it’s a bit tougher and I like the look and sound of that.

“There’s not much fighting over the summer, just training every week. You work on specific things at this time of year.

“It’s things you do throughout the season as well but you look at certain stuff closely and work hard on it.”

The schoolboy expects to be back in the competitive ring around September as club events and championships resume.

“I just want to win gold medals and try to get selected for the GBs again, and hopefully this time go one better and take the gold medal home. That would be good.”