Kaseem Saleem heavyweight title shot provides corner duty for Rutherglen boxing coach

Rutherglen boxing coach Archie Durie will be a busy man on the aptly-named Heavy Duty event in Glasgow next month, as he helps in two major professional fights.

It has been two years since Durie last coached a professional in Abie Tweedlie, who he is currently preparing for a return to the ring.

And the experienced coach will be in Xander Savage’s corner when he takes part in the Sam Kynoch event at Glasgow's Crowne Plaza on Friday, September 8, and is currently training the Dumbarton fighter.

Durie is then straight back in the corner for Kaseem Saleem’s shot at the vacant Scottish heavyweight title against Jay Carrigan-McFarlane – a boxer the coach knows very well from the past.

Saleem is training at Durie’s Boxing Gym in Blairbeth, having been asked a favour by the boxer’s own coach, Anne Armstrong from Dumfries.

Delighted Durie said: “It feels great to be training professionals again.

“Pro training is completely different to amateurs, you’re in there every day with them, and I’m working with two pros just now, doing about eight rounds each with them on the pads, and it’s a lot more physical hard work.

“I’m enjoying what I’m doing, but it’s a lot of work!”

Durie added: “It’s going great with Xander Savage, we’re getting plenty of sparring, and he’s looking as sharp as a tack – I’ve been working with him over the last month or so, getting to know the boy and doing a lot of things with him.

“I’m looking forward to working with him at the Crowne Plaza.

“Before Xander Savage contacted me and asked me to train him, Anne Armstrong, who is a really good friend of mine, asked me to work with Kaseem ahead of his title fight.

“Anne is my old pal, she knows I trained Jay for two years and he never lost a fight with me, so I’m the