Isabella Fioretti and Josh Burnside join Highland Boxing Academy clubmate Rio Peden in winning Scottish development titles
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Two more Highland Boxing Academy athletes have joined Rio Peden in becoming champions – and a fourth could be set to follow.
Last weekend Isabella Fioretti and Josh Burnside each won their own categories at the Scottish Development Championships.
Fioretti looked dominant, stopping Glasgow Boxing Academy's Tegan Dynes in the third round to make sure it was her hand raised.
Burnside's path to glory was not so smooth. He only just came out the right side of his semi final bout against Taylor Ferns (Kirkintilloch) by split decision.
However, he made the necessary improvements to win his final against Doonhammer's Kie Anderson more comfortably, by unanimous decision.
Alex McClymont had something of a frustrating weekend – seeing two opponents withdraw – but he finished things off on a high note by winning his semi final against Trench's Euan Thomas by split decision, meaning HBA could end up with four champions from the event when all is said and done.
That is a cause for celebration for Highland Boxing Academy head coach Liam Foy, who could not have asked for more from the trio.
"Josh is a young lad who has only been at the club for a year, and he'd had one bout – at the show we did at the Ice Centre," Foy explained.
"It was his first championships, and he boxed twice to win his category.
"He won a close semi final on a split decision, and after making a few adjustments to things that almost cost him a place in the final, he then looked dominant and won by unanimous decision.
"Isabella made her debut, and won the title with a really dominant display to get a third-round stoppage.
"She was too strong and too relentless for her opponent.
"After the success of Lindsay Fulton winning the Golden Gloves last season, it's great that we've already got another prominent female boxer who has been able to perform on that stage.
"Isabella has been encouraged by the likes of Lindsay at the club, so it certainly bodes well for the future.
"Alex was absolutely devastated, because he was looking at this tournament as a good way to build up experience and get a few bouts under his belt. It transpired that over the six days, he only got the very last bout of the very last day, but he won.
"We have to find a date to arrange the title fight with the other club."
