Delight as Rutherglen boxing coach gets back in pro corner

Rutherglen boxing coach Archie Durie was involved in corner duties in two professional fights for the first time in two years at Glasgow’s Crowne Plaza.

The Durie’s Boxing Gym head coach had trained Xander Savage for his fight against Brighton’s Naheem Ali and watched with pride as the Dumbarton puncher won all six rounds during Sam Kynoch’s Heavy Duty evening on Friday, September 8.

Durie was then back in the corner with Dumfries coach Anne Armstrong for Kaseem Saleem’s shot at the Scottish heavyweight title against Jay Carrigan-McFarlane, one of Archie’s former fighters.

Unfortunately for Durie and Armstrong, Carrigan-McFarlane put on a dominant show to add the heavyweight belt to his existing cruiserweight title.

However, it was a good evening for Archie, who said: “This was Xander’s first fight under my training and his first time doing six rounds, but he controlled the fight from the first bell, pushing his game English opponent back against the ropes time and again, landing big shots, switching head to body.

“The ref gave Xander every round 60-54 to take his record to 5-0 now, with a six-rounder under his belt.

“He looked sharp and strong, and the team worked well together.

“Kaseem was up against Jay Carrigan-McFarlane who I trained for almost two years, never losing a fight under me.

“On the night, Jay was hungrier for the belt, pressing Kaseem back, catching him fairly often, wearing him down, until the ref called a halt to the fight at the start of the eighth round.

“That made Jay two-time different weight champion.

“It was a sell-out crowd at the Crowne Plaza, who were going mad with excitement in this eagerly-awaited grudge match showdown.”

It was also a memorable night for Armstrong.

Archie, who runs Durie’s