Gary Young

Comeback man Young guns for welterweight title and his career back on track

Published Date: 15 November 2009

By Martin Hannan

HE WAS once the poster boy of Scottish boxing, a handsome articulate amateur champion who stepped up to the professional ranks with aplomb.

Gary Young even had his own celebrity fan – television and radio star Paul O'Grady became a big supporter as Young racked up 15 straight wins as a pro.
But in April 2006 at Meadowbank, Young rushed from the bell to try and batter Colin McNeil frMcNeil from Fauldhouse in a British title eliminator, only to hang out his chin and be knocked spark out inside the first round.

Two fights later, and Young's career appeared to be finished after he suffered a badly broken right hand in a win over David Kirk back in September 2007. Young's injury took a long time to heal, and then a six month spell in America failed to produce the opportunities that he was looking for, so the 26-year-old decided to return home earlier this year.

After more than two years out of the ring, tonight in Glasgow's Pavilion Theatre, Young will try and get his career back on track when he faces another boxer from Gilmerton in Edinburgh, Gary McMillan, for the Scottish welterweight title.

The clash is a first title shot for Young, who says it would mean even more to him to capture the Scottish championship – which is often belittled by some in boxing circles – during this Homecoming year.

He said: "It would mean a lot to me to win the Scottish title. Most importantly, it puts you in the No.1 position in your division in Scotland. I am looking to get back among the top welterweights in Britain, and I can't do that if I am not No.1 in Scotland. This year has seen the Homecoming celebrations taking place and I intend to mark my homecoming from America by winning the Scottish title."

At the weigh-in at promoter Alex Morrison's Glasgow gym yesterday, both Young and Gary McMillan scaled comfortably inside the championship limit. Young at 146lbs 9oz while McMillan was 146lbs 4oz.

Despite some unneighbourly verbal sparring in the build-up to the contest, there were no hostilities between the pair as they came face-to-face which saw McMillan label Young "one-dimensional" and state that he "still boxes the same way as he did when he was 15 years old".

It wasn't quite all smiles yesterday because both men are determined to win. McMillan said: "That's the hard part out of the way. I've done all the work in the gym and the fighting is the easy part. I'm just looking forward to the fight and making sure I get the win and my first title."

The undercard features former WBU lightweight champion Willie Limond. Tickets priced at £20, £30 and £40 are still available from the Pavilion Theatre on 0141-332 1846.

Being out of the ring for just over 2 years ,Edinburgh welterweight Gary Young (17-1) is looking to bring himself back into the boxing wilderness with a Scottish title shot against fellow Edinburgh resident Gary McMillan (9-1).


McMillan,who trains at the Lochend gym in Edinburgh,is currently in LA training at the famous Wild Card gym and is a regular sparring partner of Alex Arthur. The only loss on his record was actually on his début were he lost on points to Scott Woolford. Since then he has been on a nine fight winning streak winning most fights on points and just one knock out.

Not really a cross road fight as neither of the fighters are veterans,but I am sure Young will be looking at the fight as stepping stone to better things and help him continue his winning ways he had become accustomed to. I understand in the run up to this fight the will be using the services of Aberdeen Commonwealth champion Lee McAllister.

With both fighters being not only form Edinburgh but from the south of the city,this will add another dimension to a fight that could certainly take either fighters reputation to a higher level in the city.

Both fighters will contest the vacant title on a card promoted by veteran promoter Alex Morrison. A venue is still to be dictated but I am confident they could hold a fight of this significant in Edinburgh.

The untelevised bout will take place on November 28th,and ticket details will be announced soon .

GILMERTON professional welterweight boxer Gary Young is set to move to Los Angeles to train at the legendary Wildcard gym under coach Cassius Green.

Young is awaiting a visa but he said: "I had a long telephone conversation last week with Cassius Green.

"As a result, Green has agreed to represent me when I fly to Los Angeles within the next two weeks to re-ignite my boxing career at Freddie Roache's Wild Card gym.

Green coached ring legend Muhammad Ali's boxing daughter Leila Ali and worked with world champions such as "Sugar" Shane Mosley and 1980s light- heavyweight Eddie Mustapha Muhammad.

Young, 26, is expecting a tough regime in LA and said: "Green has warned me that I can't afford to hang around fighting six-rounders so he will be putting me in from day one in tough ten-rounders against experienced American opponents.

"That's fair enough with me as I'll only ever find out just how good I really am by taking such fights instead of boxing in meaningless six-round undercard bouts in Scotland which teach me nothing."

Meanwhile, Capital lightweight Alex Arthur also confirmed yesterday that he has been assured that he will box a non-British opponent on his comeback bout on March 27 at Glasgow's Bellahouston Leisure Centre.

He said: "I'm delighted to have been told by my promoter Frank Warren that my opponent on March 27 will be a tough overseas boxer which excites me a lot and makes me more motivated to win well then.''

"Ten hard rounds with a tough foreigner will give me a great indication of how things are likely to pan out at my new lightweight division level."

Green coached ring legend Muhammad Ali's boxing daughter Leila Ali and worked with world champions such as "Sugar" Shane Mosley and 1980s light- heavyweight Eddie Mustapha Muhammad.

Young, 26, is expecting a tough regime in LA and said: "Green has warned me that I can't afford to hang around fighting six-rounders so he will be putting me in from day one in tough ten-rounders against experienced American opponents.

"That's fair enough with me as I'll only ever find out just how good I really am by taking such fights instead of boxing in meaningless six-round undercard bouts in Scotland which teach me nothing."

Peter Harrison, father of former two time world featherweight champion Scott Harrison was equally enthusiastic about Youngs plans.

" Garys had alot of unfortunate luck in his career, but he's a hard worker, he's one of the hardest punchers i've ever trained and i think he definately has what it takes, i wish him all the best in america."

Meanwhile, Capital lightweight Alex Arthur also confirmed yesterday that he has been assured that he will box a non-British opponent on his comeback bout on March 27 at Glasgow's Bellahouston Leisure Centre.

He said: "I'm delighted to have been told by my promoter Frank Warren that my opponent on March 27 will be a tough overseas boxer which excites me a lot and makes me more motivated to win well then.''

"Ten hard rounds with a tough foreigner will give me a great indication of how things are likely to pan out at my new lightweight division level."

The Wild Card Boxing club rests above a downtrodden launderette, adjacent to The Vagabond Inn - one of the more shady motels in Hollywood.

Freddie Roach's gym though is absolutely buzzing. Hundreds of new members have signed up in recent weeks: actors, singers, prospects, former fighters, keep-fit fanatics, even schoolkids of all shapes and sizes. Here lies a strange assortment of folk and when you walk past 'Big Rob' who guards the premises, you get a rich life experience.

There's Columbo, a chirpy one-eyed fella, who was a street drifter. He begged Freddie for a job, so he has been cleaning the gym. When Columbo sees a chance he dons the pads as an 'alternative' coach.

There are old pros like Larry Musgrove - who used to spar with Marvin Hagler - and the biggest name is the former world Heavyweight champion Michael Moorer - who squandered millions. Freddie has given Mike a way back, a job as his assistant, and a sofa to sleep on. It's been working well for three months now. Even a more legendary Mike - Tyson - has apparently inquired about working alongside one of his old trainers.

The atmosphere here is extraordinary: the gym opens from 8 to 8, even on Christmas Day. There is never ever a quiet moment... in fact it's marginally insane!

There are all sorts of accents and languages to be found - flags from so many countries hang from the walls - alongside an amazing collection of boxing memorabilia.

On account of Freddie's ties with Steve Collins, the extremely amiable and down to earth Hall of Fame trainer has long had a close connection with us. He opens the doors wide whenever we are in town. In fact it's been so regular lately that Freddie wonders if I've seen more of him than my wife!

Many Irish and Scottish fighters have come here to find their fame and fortune. Dean Byrne and Craig McEwan are among the serious hopes at the moment. There's a certain Englishman called Amir Khan, who's due back in a few weeks and who has been drawn to the hive of activity - where you just have to fit in. Spars are infamously tough, reputations mean nothing, it's really a case of only the strongest survive.

There are loads of current Filipinos like AJ Banal and veteran Gerry Penalosa in the eclectic mix. The popular old Penalosa challenges formidable young puncher Juan Manuel Lopez in a few weeks.

The main reason they are here is because Manny Pacquiao joined forces with Freddie some eight years ago. It has been a close-knit and absorbing partnership, which has delivered a string of world titles, thunderous displays, and monumental upsets through the divisions.

Emmanuel Pacquiao has come a long way. The son of a vegetable farmer, he sold bread and cigarettes barefoot on the streets of Gensan and Manila as a child, while street fighting for a few pesos. Today he stands as the most famous Filipino in the world. When he fights, the country literally stops and there is virtually zero crime. Manny is also a leading recording artist and movie star! He's even more popular than the President!

Whenever he heads home, millions greet him, and his personal entourage of nearly 80 includes crack rangers to protect his safety. As he has become more of a global attraction, many people are needed around him even in America. From managers to lawyers to bodyguards to drivers to chefs, they all have roles to play.

His most trusted lieutenant is Buboy Fernandez,his childhood mate, who's like a twin brother... and has been his assistant trainer for years. Nonoy Neri prepares all the food - Manny's addicted to soup, rice and chicken mixed with malunggay and tinola.

Top dietician Terry Toms works closely with personal nutritionist Nonoy - who can convert her facts and figures into Manny's favourite Asian food. Terry works for Alex Ariza's conditioning team, which also includes researchers from UCLA like Andrei Macias, who does the risk analysis of all Alex's physical work. This largely focuses on plyometrics and explosive ballistic training,

Manny is up early in the morning to run be it high in the Hollywood Hills or sprint work at the track, or laps of LA's Pan Pacific Park. He finishes with an incredible array of floor exercises. We counted more than 600 sit-ups in all types of body positions in a matter of minutes.

Manny then rests, sleeps and watches fight videos, before his punishing afternoon sessions at the Wild Card. Manny trains here for three hours straight and when I say three hours, I mean three hours non-stop!

Floyd Mayweather remains the most dazzling talent inside a training camp that I've ever seen, but Pacquiao is without question the hardest working. It's draining to even watch; round after round on the balls, bags, pads, skipping - anything. More abdominal work, more rounds; Manny usually completes an astonishing 43x3 sessions - with little water. Alex worries about it at times, and occasionally Freddie says 'day off' - do nothing. But Manny doesn't like that much!

Over-training hasn't proved to be a problem yet - and he never seems to pick up injuries. Manny Pacquiao is just used to very, very, very, hard work. He pushes discipline and dedication to the limits. Yet he of course excels on the boxing side. Days in camp alternate between sparring and pad work.

We saw him spar with Urbano Antillon - a 25-0 decent, young prospect who knocked out Manny's brother Bobby in a round. Pacquiao also worked with an interesting figure in one-time Scottish hope Gary Young, who has re-located to America to try and re-ignite his career. It was good to see Gary, who has been working in a psychiatric ward to help supplement his boxing and get by.

His new Stateside team thrust him forward as a sparring partner for Pacquiao. We witnessed four torrid rounds that he suffered against the quickfire southpaw skills of the world's best. It was painful to watch, but Gary stuck in there - and was very, very brave.

It was one of the most one-sided spars you'll ever see; that's the harsh reality of the Wild Card Gym, where the sparring can be more exciting than actual big-money fights. No-one gets an easy ride.

Hopefully Gary will have learnt from his harsh 15 minutes. It was a pure example of the levels in boxing. Gary was an excellent amateur and is no slouch. He was just not good enough to deal with the super-fast Pacquiao - who one felt was holding back.

I watched a fascinating hour and-a-half of Freddie working the mitts with Manny; side-to-side movement, plenty of quick body shots, leverage, rhythm, uppercuts, and of course speed. Freddie has studied so many Hatton fights that he is "sick of them".

He actually has a soft spot for Ricky, and I think he'd loved to have trained him. He just feels he has the better man in Pacquiao. Freddie Roach really lives and breathes boxing.

Michael Moorer kept piping in that Manny's right hand will win this fight. He stands behind Freddie so that he can see things from a different angle - especially analyzing the foot movement. Pacquiao was zipping in and out ferociously. He's in excellent shape, because he's been training for weeks - partly due to his passion for basketball, which he plays daily while out of camp.

Manny is serious at work, but all smiles out of the ring. A family man with four children (two boys and two girls), everyone says he is so humble and I really felt it through our time together. He gives so much back to the Philippines. Last July there was a terrible typhoon in his homeland, and Manny gave thousands to the victims.

More money will go to his entourage in the build-up. Once again Manny is challenging them to lose weight - about $1,000 a pound - and Alex Ariza won $13,000 last time. Team Pacquiao are also having a darts competition for a big prize: Manny is fiercely competitive and he was gutted that he lost to Ricky in The New Inn pub when in Britain!

Most of England will be rooting for Hatton of course; but judging by Manny's phenomenal reception at the Manchester press conference, pockets of Pacquiao supporters around the country will be cheering on their own hero come May 2. The demand for Pacquiao autographs and photographs out in Hollywood is so much that they restrict this to Saturdays at the Wild Card.

Last week, 250 people turned up, so instead of signing photos, Manny invited them all to be extras in his latest music video! Pacquiao might want to be a rock star, but he's a boxing king first and foremost, and he intends to keep that career shining very brightly on May 2.

It was wonderful being around Team Pacquiao - thank you for your terrific hospitality - and I'm sure we will be back with Freddie again soon. Manny looks virtually primed and ready now. Next week it's Ricky's turn to be scrutinised - I'll be reporting back from Hatton's camp in Vegas

After a long tome out of the boxing scene Edinburgh welterweight Gary Young has made a decision to push forward on his promising career. However the pushing will be over in the states where he hopes to build on previous experience and build towards world title contender.

After a strong start Young currently holds a record of 17-1, with the one loss coming by the way of a quick KO at the hands of Scottish rival Colin McNeil. After that loss in April 2006, he then returned to win his next two successive bouts, but since then has been hindered by injuries.

Young explains about what lead to the long lay off "I have been in and out of plaster, I had broken my hand in the first round of the (David) Kirk fight. I had been doing seeing various physios and specialists, to try and avoid having to get surgery on it. It was a real patience game"
Young goes to mention how it affected his fitness work "I was still trying to keep myself in shape, but there was a time were I couldn�ft run as I had to keep my hand elevated all the time"

When he first turned pro young was promoted and co managed by Sports network but was also co managed by Frank Maloney. I asked him if this unique management pairing of Frank Maloney and Frank Warren helped him with his career "At the early stages of my career it was fantastic. Because I was so young everything was made to run smooth and slowly, and I understood at that point in my career why that was"

"But I felt it never picked up from there. I do feel for the sake of getting exposure it was easy to put me in a four rounder, were as for the sake of my career it would have been better to push up for an six or eight round fight early in my career"

Of the early fights Young explains the fights helped him a lot in learning, and helped him build on his amateur experience " When I thought Ivor Bonavic over 8 rounds in Glasgow; he was a strong gutsy fighter. I knocked him down 5 times in the 8 rounds, with the fifth time being in the eight round. To build up to the final knock down, I tried to finish him and he kept getting up .This was a good test to my temperament .It showed me how to work a fighter down. This fighter wasn�ft going to crumble at the first combination or left hook"

So with the injury that plagued his career over the last few years out the way Young has turned his attention to fighting in America. This started last year when he went to the Wildcard gym and he states his plans to go out there were not actually just to train, but to get away from domestic pressures

"The training was getting repetitive over here. I just had my cast off and people were throwing fights at me. The hand wasn�ft completely fixed. So to be honest I went to America to train with out the pressure of people trying to get me to fight. I knew my next fight had to be a big fight to launch me back on the scene. While I was over there I had some hard sparring and training,"

He then goes on to explain the advantages of fighting in the states as to continue to fight in the UK "The training facilities, my good manager I have (Jason Slazenger) and the financial side of it. I am looking to fast track myself towards a world title. "

While he has fought at domestic level, Young explains he sees himself having to push to another level while stateside "I am going to try and push that bar higher than they envisage. I want to show them just because I haven�ft fought at that level before, doesn�ft mean that I wasn�ft at that level before. I started my career sparring with Scott Harrison, Alex Arthur and Willie Limond.Some of my sparring was better than the fights themselves. I felt if I was pushed earlier in my career I could have had the opportunity to show myself"


And he also recently found out he has been selected to be Manny Pacquiao sparring partner, ahead of his fight with Ricky Hatton .I asked him about the prospect of this and he beamed "This is a fantastic test. I am going to learn so much .This is going be excellent preparation. He (Manny Pacquiao) actually said that if he was going to fight Hatton I would be his sparring partner, and Freddie (roach) has signed it"

He laughs "Ricky Hatton has only has to do it for 12 rounds, I will have to do it for every day!"
So in the short term things are looking up for Young, I asked him for his long term plans .He reveals he is planning to stay at Welterweight "We are going to be campaigning at welterweight. There is something about the welterweight division; I owe it to myself to win a belt at that weight.Im just a little Scotsman, I am quite short, I can�ft envisage going up to middleweight"

I seem that while things have slowed down recently for young it would appear he has given himself a good opportunity to prove his credentials in a division that currently is gleaming with

Posted by Gary reilly at 22:06:00

Manny Pacquiao hasn't been in the camp, but he is nothing like Kotelnik anyway. Khan's main sparring partner has been Rachad Holloway, a strong American welterweight, with a record of 10 wins (five ko's) and one defeat.

Rachad told me that he was Manny's main sparring partner for the De La Hoya fight. He has also worked with Shane Mosley and Zab Judah and says that Khan - whilst not the hardest hitter - is faster than all of them.

Ghana's Abdullai Amidu has also done several hard rounds with Khan. Amidu has won all 18 professional fights, 17 by knockout. You don't get these quality spars in England. There is 'no comfort' zone - it can be brutal. Amidu thinks Khan is the real deal.

I watched one session alongside Scotland's Gary Young- a good fighter who went in with Pacquiao for just four rounds before the Hatton match. He admitted that he was schooled, and also told me he chipped a bone in his nose! Gary's next assignment might be to work in Floyd Mayweather's camp. It's tough out here.

American-based Irish hope Dean Byrne was annoyed that he couldn't spar with Khan, because he hurt his hand in his last outing. Dean's a good guy, who has sparred with top fighters worldwide, and he rates Khan highly.

Dean believes Khan is fast and classy enough to go far; plus he thinks he has enormous heart and bravery. I asked him about Amir's chin - his punch resistance - and whether he had seen any problems during the three training camps Khan has had at the Wildcard.

"We use 14 oz gloves, and not at all", Dean said quickly. "But he should tuck his chin away. Sometimes he drops his hands and let's himself get hit, as if to say I can take these. You don't want to drop your hands in boxing

Gary Young and Jason Hastie Training in LA

Braveheart Promotions’ Gary Young and Jason Hastie have been preparing for the biggest fights of their respective careers with fellow Scot Craig McEwan at the famous Wildcard Boxing Club in Los Angeles. The Edinburgh duo will both appear on the undercard of Willie Limond’s IBO Intercontinental lightweight title defence against Graham Earl at Glasgow’s SECC on June .14.

For 21-year-old rookie Hastie, who will make his fourth start in the paid ranks at the SECC, the next fight is always the most important at this early stage of his career.

However, Young, who has been plagued with injuries throughout his pro career, is determined to prove that the broken right hand which has kept him out of the ring since September has finally healed.

Young said: "I have been out of action for a long time. I broke two bones in my right hand last year and then suffered the same injury again when boxing David Kirk. I thought my hand was okay, but I broke it again when sparring Gary McMillan in preparation for my scheduled Celtic title fight with Barrie Jones at Meadowbank last December.

"I am now punching well with my right hand and the bones have set well. I have also enlisted the help of physiotherapist Sandi Lyall from the FASIC Sports Injury Centre to ensure that my hands are professionally wrapped from now on."

Young and Hastie have been using their two weeks in Freddie Roach’s gym to complete the groundwork for their upcoming bouts before returning to Scotland to complete the serious preparation with trainer Billy Nelson.

McEwan, who was in the Scottish 2006 Commonwealth Games squad with Hastie and his gold medallist winning stablemate Kenny Anderson, moved from Edinburgh to train with Roach and sign with Golden Boy Promotions in 2006.

The childhood friend of Young has won all ten contests thus far and will make his first appearance as a professional in the UK on the undercard of Ricky Hatton’s clash with Juan Lazcano at the city of Manchester Stadium this coming Saturday.

Hastie said: "I have been training hard and soaking up the atmosphere in the gym. The quality of sparring is amazing and sharing a ring with boxers from Mexico and the Philippines has helped me adapt to facing different styles of opponent.

"I aim to make the most of being a professional boxer because it is a short career, and this trip has been a fantastic learning experience. I had a great learning fight against Robin Deakin last time out, but I wasn’t too happy with my performance.

"I will get back to using my boxing skills next time, but it is better to learn a hard lesson winning a fight than losing."

Tickets for Braveheart Promotions’ show at the SECC on Saturday 14th June are available from the SECC Box Office on 0870 040 4000

Edinburgh’s unbeaten Gary Young faces the reigning Russian Light Welterweight champion, Viktor Baranov, on the Arthur v Docherty undercard on Friday night and sees it as another step towards the big time.

"Scott and Alex are the main men in Scotland at the moment and I’m looking to join them," said the 21 year old Welterweight. "Both of them are involved in big title fights. Scott is facing Michael Brodie in June and Alex has a tough fight against Docherty this Friday and it won’t be long until I’m in their position and involved in some big title fights that will really push me into the limelight.

"But all that will go out of the window if I slip up against Baranov."

Since turning professional three years ago, Gary Young has blasted his way through a selection of prospects and journeymen, and although Baranov fits nicely into the latter of the two, it will be his biggest challenge to date.

The 37 year old Muscovite certainly doesn’t lack experience and his 57 fight career have seen him in with the likes of Oktay Urkal back in 1998 in a WBC International Light Welterweight title fight as well as British names like Steve Murray, Jason Cook and Bobby Vanzie.

But in the same time period that Young has chalked up 12 wins, seven of which by way of knockout, Baranov has won just four of a dozen fights, with those wins coming against fellow Russians.

Nonetheless, Young isn’t taking his latest opponent lightly.

"It’s a very tough fight for me and as this is the most important year for me I will be looking to do an efficient job on Baranov to make a real statement."

He may have been a former European kickboxing champion, but Thomas Hengsberger had nothing in his arsenal of punches to trouble Edinburgh’s Gary Young at the Braehead Arena last night.

The 21 year old southpaw has now won 12 on the bounce since turning pro and took just three rounds to dispose of Hengsberger who had no answers to the power of Welterweight Young.

In the second, Gary rocked the Austrian with shot after shot and on more than one occasion it looked like Hengsberger’s legs wanted to exit stage left. In the third, the punishment continued and when it was obvious that Hengsberger had had enough the ref stepped in.

Gary Young now needs better opposition than this to push him on to domestic glory.

Martin Watson’s another boxer who needs a better class of opponent. After convincingly beating Mark Winters last time out to take the Celtic Lightweight title, a four rounder against Walsall’s Jimmy Beech was little more than a public workout for the Coatbridge man. Beech, who was KO’d in the first round by Willie Limond a few years ago, was not in Watson’s class and it really was one way traffic from beginning to end. 40-36 the points win.

Edinburgh’s Scott Flynn stepped down to Super-Bantamweight to beat Shrewsbury’s Neil Marsden in two rounds. A left hook at the end of the first perforated Marsden’s ear drum and the battle of the southpaws ended when the referee stepped in to save him from further injury following two knockdowns at the start of the second.

Equally impressive was Colin McNeil’s one sided victory over Matt Scriven, although to be fair to the Nottingham boxer he did take the fight at just two day’s notice. McNeil floored Scriven in the second, third and fourth round and threw some excellent body and head shots throughout to win 40-34 on points.

Of the four contests, McNeil will have benefited most from his win. Scriven did all he could to unsettle the young southpaw, and was constantly being talked to the referee for doing so, and McNeil will have emerged much the wiser for the experience.

Edinburgh’s Gary Young returned to the ring after a seventh month absence with an excellent eighth round stoppage win over Ivor Bonavic at the Braehead Arena on Saturday night.

Young has been out of action with a hand injury, but there were no signs of ring rust as he delivered an excellent performance in beating the Canning Town based Russian who just this summer gained a shock KO victory over the then unbeaten Martin Concepcion.

The opening round saw both boxers go to work immediately, with Bonavic trying his luck with uppercuts and Young mixing it up with jabs, body punches and a left hook that forced a standing eight count moments before the bell sounded.

The next three rounds saw Bonavic doing his best to stay with Young and he was certainly game enough, but he was always on the receiving end of the better quality work.

In the second, Young used his right to great effect, catching his opponent with uppercuts, straights and a superb hook and was threatening to totally dominate affairs. Aware of this, Bonavic tried to fight Young at distance in the third with limited success, with the 22 year old Scottish southpaw always beating him to the punch, and in the fourth the Russian’s attempts to take the fight to Young were thwarted by the jab. The most he got for his efforts was a bloody nose courtesy of a peach of a left.

In the fifth, Gary Young sensed victory was in sight, with Bonavic’s workrate tailing away, and the punches rained in on his opponent. Bonavic was forced to take another count and Young continued with punishing body shots into the sixth where he also found success with doubling up his jab.

The seventh saw Young tear into Bonavic again, with Bonavic trying to stay in close, working away as he did so.

And so into the eighth, and a comfortable points win was in the bag as far as Gary Young was concerned, but he was intent on stopping Bonavic. A string of straight rights followed by a fantastic right hook and another straight in the middle of the round and it was indeed all over. Bonavic wanted to fight on, but in truth it had been mostly one way traffic and referee Paul Graham was absolutely spot on in calling a halt to proceedings.

The best win of Gary Young’s career to date and he’s now unbeaten in 14 contests as a pro. It will be very interesting to see what 2006 has in store

As reported last Friday, the much anticipated fight between Colin McNeil and Gary Young will be on the Global Warning undercard at the Braehead Arena on the 5th of November, but the Celtic Light Middleweight title will not be at stake.

Gary Young has been saying for months now that he is more than happy to fight Colin McNeil, but that he is no longer interested in campaigning at anything other than Light Welterweight. That leaves the option of the fight taking place at Catchweight and both boxers are quoted in today’s Edinburgh Evening News as being happy with just such a match

The much awaited fight between Gary Young and Colin McNeil is on again, this time on the undercard of Scott Harrison’s WBO Featherweight title defence at the Braehead Arena on the 25th of March.

The pair were due to meet back in November, but McNeil’s six month ban for failing a drug test following his British title fight with Ossie Duran scuppered those plans.

It is a fight that many in Scotland have been looking forward to and will certainly add substance to an undercard that also boasts John Simpson versus Steve Foster Jr for the WBU Featherweight title.

Gary Young is now unbeaten in 15 as a professional and will be looking towards title fights before the end of the year. At 33, Colin McNeil’s future certainly won’t have the longevity of his opponent who is still only 22, but a lot of pride will be at stake for the Fauldhouse southpaw and a battle royal the likely outcome.