Boxing: Steve Simmons sure he'll be a knockout at new weight

Steve Simmons makes his professional debut tomorrow night, vowing to give his opponent Nick Okoth the utmost respect.
By The Newsroom
Published 10th Mar 2011, 10:55 BST
Updated 11th Mar 2011, 12:18 BST

The former Leith Victoria Scottish amateur heavyweight champion clashes on the undercard as Ricky Burns defends his WBO super-featherweight title against Joseph Laryea at Braehead Arena well aware that Londoner Okoth was stopped inside four rounds by Edinburgh's Kenny Anderson on his own pro debut in 2006.

Simmons, who will battle his opponent at cruiserweight, insisted: "After that loss to Kenny Anderson, Okoth went on to outpoint former Sparta light-heavyweight Gordon Brennan and also went the eight rounds distance with world-rated Welsh boxer Nathan Cleverly. So I won't be regarding Okoth as a pushover by any means."

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Simmons' confidence is brimming after stepping down from heavyweight. "Boxing at cruiser rather than heavyweight is going to be a big advantage because I'll be up against guys more my size where before I was fighting guys who were much heavier and taller than me in the amateurs.''

Cruierweight is between light-heavyweight and heavyweight and veteran Leith Victoria coach Joe Fortune believes Simmons' strategy of moving down is a sound one. He was in Simmons' corner when he won his first 20 amateur heavyweight fights but always felt latterly that he was at a disadvantage against some of the huge Cuban and eastern European opponents he fought at heavyweight. "I think he can do well at his new weight especially as he has always had a great left jab, a good chin and a left hook that can stop guys if it lands flush,'' he said.

Meanwhile, Queensferry's former British featherweight champion, Paul Appleby, has been tipped to win handily against his opponent Youssef Al Hamadi.

Ricky Burns outpointed Al Hamadi in Cardiff in 2007 and his ring cornerman Billy Nelson said: "Ricky has been sparring with Appelby in preparation for Ricky's defence against Joseph Laryea and Paul will be too good for Al Hamadi on what I've seen.'' A spokesperson for Appleby said: "Paul is really raring to go after training hard in Spain under former Scottish amateur champion Steve Williams - he knows that a good win here could put him back in the title frame.''

British Masters welterweight champion Gary McMillan will fight a selected opponent on tomorrow night's bill after his scheduled British 10st 7lb title eliminator fight with Manchester's Michael Jennings was postponed due to a hand injury.

Said southpaw McMillan: "I don't care who they put in front of me at Braehead - whoever the opponent they will be on the receiving end of my superb condition after ten weeks of hard graft with my coach Terry McCormack.''

For Lochend light-middleweight John Thain it is a case of dj vu as he goes head-to-head with Kevin McAuley from Stourbridge, an opponent whom Thain outpointed on his pro debut. And, fresh from his points win last week in Scotstoun over Paul McElhinney, Edinburgh super-bantamweight Gareth Stemp will box four rounds at Braehead against a selected opponent.

He said: "It doesn't matter who I fight, I just want to show again that my recent points loss to Jon Slowey was a one-off. I've been training hard and feel sharp and appearing on a world title bill is thrill for me too.''

"I think Steve can do well at his new weight especially as he has always had a great left jab" joe fortune