Championship boxing will be the first non-basketball event to take place at Caledonia Gladiators’ arena, with a stacked evening in store on Friday night.
St Andrew’s Sporting Club are holding a ‘Gladiators’ fight night at the state-of-the-art arena in East Kilbride, with several Lanarkshire fighters involved.
Commonwealth silver super flyweight champion Matty McHale will headline the event as he defends his title for the first time.
Scottish and Celtic champion Dylan Arbuckle takes the co-main event slot, as he takes part in a Commonwealth super bantamweight eliminator.
EK’s Josh Sandford will look to become Scottish super lightweight champion in his home town.
Another East Kilbride boxer joining the card is Lewis Connelly, while Wishaw’s Scott Allan will fight his last UK encounter before taking on Sultan Al Nuaimi in Abu Dhabi on November 2.
Craig Morgan, Stuart Richardson, Luke Bibby, Sean Lazzerini, Lee McGregor, Charlie Doig and Lewis Connelly will also feature, with the evening broadcast live on boxing platform DAZN.
St Andrew’s Sporting Club owner Iain Wilson said: “It’s great news for Scottish boxing and I think it’s deserved for everyone involved.
“There’s some serious talent here. We have title fights, debutantes and guys like Luke McGregor, who have been, seen and done it, and is coming through again. It is a stacked card.”
Josh Sandford, who runs an amateur boxing gym in East Kilbride, will fight in front of many of his students.
He said: “It’s massive to have this fight in East Kilbride. It’s going to be great to have all the kids and boxers from my gym along. It’s going to create a lot of inspiration for them, but no pressure – I’m just thankful to be here and on this massive card.”
‘Title-taker’ Scott Allan hopes for success in Abu Dhabi next month, but says he’s busy in East Kilbride first.
He said: “After this fight I’ve got a nice shiny WBA belt that’s coming back home with me, but this will be my last fight in the UK.
“Iain has secured me a quality fight over in Abu Dhabi for the finale, and yeah it’s on Boxrec now, but I take nothing for granted.
“I’ve got a job to do on Friday before I even look at Abu Dhabi or even consider it. I would be out of my mind to think about it, when I have a fight to look forward to first.”
Ringside VIP tickets are available for £125, lower tier is £75, upper tier is £50 and these can be bought at [email protected] or call 0141 810 1050.
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