McArthur Reigns Supreme At Lightweight With Victory Over Prince

Last year's Scottish Light-Welterweight (64kg) champion Gary McArthur produced a gutsy performance to claim the Lightweight championship by outpointing Mitch Prince, at the Scottish Amateur Boxing Championships last night in Coatbridge.

McArthur, who earlier weighed in at 59.3kg, showed tremendous heart to continue after a furious opening round, which saw the former Osprey boy being bodyslammed by the Broadwood brawler. While in a heated clinch, Prince lifted McArthur over his shoulders, and crashed him to the canvas.

Despite this setback, McArthur lifted himself up off the floor, shrugging off an elbow injury (post-fight talk claimed Gary may have a fracture) to win 21-19 on points.

Prince was deducted points for this direct flouting of the rules, but was somewhat punished when McArthur managed to claw back after losing the first 5 points to 1. In the second, McArthur started to settle, but was still unable to establish enough rhythm to take Mitch out of his stride. Even so, Gary's straight punches seemed to be cleaner than Prince's rough-house bodyshots and hooks inside.

In the third, Prince seemed to run out of gas, and a veangeful McArthur capitalised with several straight combinations. Mitch was never out though, and continued to surge forward, throwing punches in bunches.

In the fourth and final round, as an excited and nailbiting crowd roared the two boxers on, the pair attempted to end the fight right there. Gary, now of Blantyre Miners and training under John McDermott, loaded up and attempted to bury Mitch with some thumping left hands. Prince, undeterred, roared back with furious combos. Both seemed thoroughly exhausted, but it was McArthur who sucked it up enough to take the fight on the judges scorecards.

Prince will come back no doubt, although the Broadwood lad is hardly used to losing. A District champion, and former Scottish 60kg king, he will see this as a major setback as he tries to establish himself as the very best in the Lightweight ranks. McArthur however is now a double Scottish champion, and has came from 64kg to 60kg to underline his authority.

A rematch would be another thriller, that's for sure. But for now, Gary McArthur reigns supreme at Lightweight.

Results from all of the Senior Scottish Boxing Championships Finals

51kg Usmaaan Hussaain (Kinross) Beat Steven Marshall (Inverness) Points 29-11

54kg James Ancliff (Granite City) Beat Mohammed Steto (Kingdom) Points 22-13

57kg Jason Hastie (Gilmerton) Beat Darren Traynor (Granite City) Points 20-7

60kg Gary McArthur (Blantyre Miners) Beat Mitch Prince (Broadwood) Points 21-19

64kg Mark Hastie (Forgewood) Beat Lee Burnett (Kincorth) Points 17-3

69kg Kris Carslaw (Paisley) Beat William Bilan (Denbeath) Points 49-32

75kg Craig McEwan (Clovenstone) Beat Philip Warner (Springhill) RSCO 2nd

81kg Kenny Anderson (Craigmillar) Beat Mathew Donald (Kincorth) Points 22-10

91kg Stephen Simmons (Leith Victoria) Beat Barry Stewart (Inverness) RSCO 3rd

91+kg James Perry (Larkhall) Beat Fraser Thirde (Arbroath) Points 25-5

Fight report by Ronnie McCluskey

Posted by scottish-boxing at March 19, 2005 10:38 AM