ANDREW Grimason, a Northern Ireland world champion, says his success is worth turning down offers from football clubs for.
The 22-year-old had a host of Irish League clubs lining up for his signature after a number of trials in England and Scotland, but instead of kicking a ball for the rest of his sporting career, he decided to kick opponents in the ring.
Grimason took the WKN light-middleweight title two years ago following a superb display against the more experience Steve Kitchener of Scotland and since then has had two defences of his amateur world title and will now make it a third this weekend against Greg Doherty the No1 challenger for the title. Doherty recently got himself in pole position by beating the current European champion in Russia at the start of the year. Glasgow’s Greg Doherty is expected to give Grimason a testing time in the ring after a war of words between the pair this week. Doherty claimed - the east-Belfast man’s winning streak is about to end. “He won’t bully me the way he has other fighters” said Doherty at a press conference this week. The Belfast Express is about to come off the track. I’m too smart too fast and have much more in my arsenal for him. I will be the new champion come Saturday night.”
For Grimason, the challenger Doherty is just another day at the office.
Grimason, who learned his trade at just eight year’s of age, has stunned some of the biggest names in the game, including Marvelous Marvin Hagler. Grimason fought in front of the boxing legend three years ago in Geneva, Hagler said then, “I don’t’ normally get excited about new talent coming through but Grimason has a raw power and aggression that you don’t see too often in the game, he really impressed me.”
With just a few days before his third defence Andrew fired from the lip.
“As champion I will honour the WKN belt in the best manner I can and I will respect those who come and try to take it away from me, but be warned those that stand before me will fall as I have no intention of giving up my belt that has taken me so long to get.”
His coach Billy Murray said, “Champions are not born; they have to work hard to reach the top and even harder to stay there. Andrew has the talent and heart to stay at the top of the amateur game for a long time.”
Bringing up the rear is The Loup’s Darren Dougan who will face Andrew’s former nemesis Stevie Kitchener. The Scot is the only man to stop the tough County Derry man. Dougan was caught cold in the opening seconds of the first round two years ago in Carrickfergus. “It will be a tough fight for Dougan” Said Murray “He really needs to get over this demon of Kitchener to enable him to move on to bigger and better things. I feel he has the beating of Kitchener providing Darren is in the right frame of mind for the fight.”
Joining Grimason and Dougan is a full team of novice fighters including Barrie Oliver who made the headlines last week after his mother gave birth minutes after his first fight at the falls Leisure centre, Darren Wilkinson is hoping to notch up a win after his draw two weeks ago, Magherafelt’s Oliver Murphy will join first timer Wayne McCormick and talented teenager Mark Bird will have his sixth outing.

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