Ian Young knows a thing or two about being at the top of his game.
Young, a former blues player who helped lift two Irish league titles,
has a new moniker - 'Mr Motivator'. The current super welterweight
British champion is a great motivator to 22 year-old Andrew Grimason.
The dedicated 'Young Gun' phones Grimason every morning to ensure
he is up and out of bed for his early morning runs.
Ian said; "Andrew was Grim of old for his 6am runs but now
its full steam ahead for the Belfast Express as Grim hopes to reap
the benefits come this Saturday when he defends his light middleweight
WKN world title."
Main Story...
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.
Back to news
|