Rutherglen coach hails young boxer as a future champion

Rutherglen boxing coach Archie Durie says Michael McMillan is a champion in the making after winning his amateur debut fight on Sunday.

McMillan took part in the Renfrewshire Amateur Boxing Club show at the Normandy Hotel, Renfrew, alongside Cambuslang’s Rehan Farid.

Thirteen-year-old McMillan was up against Renfrewshire boxer Callum Elliot at 54kg, winning convincingly.

Durie’s Boxing Gym head coach Archie Durie said: “Michael listened to everything he was told in the corner, started hard and fast, putting the Renfrewshire boxer on the back foot from the off, winning every round in the contest.

“Michael was looking very strong, he’s only 13, and what a talent he is – definitely a champion in the making.”

Cambuslang’s Farid, 14, was in against Shay Scott from Renfrew, but a mix-up with the ages meant the bout was reduced to an exhibition show of skills.

Durie added: “Rehan was three months too old to box his younger opponent, so a non-scoring exhibition was all they were allowed to put on – through no fault of our own.

“This gave me an opportunity to let my grandson Jamie climb through the ropes to do is first ever corner coaching.”

Meanwhile, Archie and coaches Jamie Durie and John Maguire recently visited Trinity High School in Rutherglen for the start of their mental health and awareness week.

It was a long day for the coaching trio, who had four classes of around 20 pupils each, starting at 8.30am and finishing at 3.30pm, but Durie says it was all in a good cause.

He said: “We had seven classes ranging from our smallest, 24, and our largest being 37 pupils, each in at the 40-minute sessions.

“That’s the hardest I’ve worked in years, but it was all for a good cause!

“Thanks to Jamie and John for their help – I