Boxing: McCormack hails Skey despite loss

Welsh featherweight Sammy Baker, with 68 bouts under his belt to Lochender Kevin Skey's 36, made expeience tell in the British Youth Boxing championships 57kg final at Cardiff on Saturday by outpointing his Edinburgh man 5-2.

But Lochend club coach Terry McCormack praised Scottish champion Skey's performance. "Despite losing the first round by 3-0 Kevin battled back well so that he actually drew the last round by 1-1 with Baker but the Welsh guy's big second round was enough to ensure his overall 5-2 win. Skey only losing by three points overall to Baker isn't such a bad result. "Kevin will learn from this loss."

McCormack revealed Edinburgh welterweight John Thain will have his second pro bout on 4 September on the Ricky Burns v Martinez WBO sperfeatherweight title clash in Glasgow's Kelvin Hall against a selected opponent.