Boxing: Barn fighters run rings round their opponents

Oct 29 2008 by Colin Paterson, Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser

FIGHTERS from Coatbridge’s Barn Boxing Club have enhanced their reputation thanks to a string of top performances recently.

Leading the brigade was Eamon Goodbrand who beat professional Kevin Lilley at the Lagoon Centre in Paisley.

The 22-year-old had his opponent on the canvas twice and won every round to claim a fantastic victory.

At the Volunteer Rooms in Irvine, there was more success for local boxers with Coatbridge-based Willie Hastings flooring Vineburgh’s Michael Murona in the first round on his way a seven-point win.

A unanimous points decision saw Lucas Ferguson defeat Vineburgh member Lee Roberts.

But despite a brave display, Scottish champion Mark McKeown lost by a point to Salford’s Ally Fleming, one of the best fighters at his weight in England.

A trip to Loanhead Miners’ Welfare Club completed the weekend for the Barn boys who tasted victory and defeat.

New welterweight member, Victor Edagha, a Nigerian-born bruiser who now lives in Glasgow, beat last year’s Scottish champ, David Barlow.

But it wasn’t good news for Willie Marshall who lost out to home boxer David Louden – although he did pick up the fighter of the night award afterwards.

Barn BC coach, Rab Bannan, told the Advertiser: “There were some outstanding fights and our boys did really well.

“We’d like to congratulate them on their efforts and thank Select Blinds for their continued support and sponsorship.”

Derek Hill, of the company, praised the club and added: “I have been a boxing fan for years and what the lads did on these nights was incredible.

“They are coming on leaps and bounds and the work-rate and fitness levels are terrific. I was proud of every single one of them.

“The Barn is a factory of pure talent and we continue to wish them all the best for the future.”

At Danderhall Miners’ Welfare Club on Sunday, 18-year-old Michael McNeill produced a remarkable display to defeat Mark Lothian while Bargeddie bruiser Steven Lee took part in his first fight.

Meanwhile, champion boxer Ricky Burns will fight Ghanaian Yakubu Amidu at the Kelvin Hall in Glasgow on Friday, November 14.

It will be the 25-year-old’s first mandatory defence of the Commonwealth Super-Featherweight title he won last month.

The Coatbridge scrapper’s African opponent has a record of 16 wins from 18 fights – but hasn’t fought outside his own country.

Burns said: “He is a big puncher but I am more than confident of coming through this fight.

“My only problem at the moment is that all of his fights have been in Ghana and I can’t get any tapes of him in action.”

Tickets for Burns’ clash with Amidu are priced at £30, £50 and £100 respectively.