Boxer Jay Black has brought the Rab Bannan Memorial Shield to Coatbridge for the first time, after winning a Western District title for the third year running.
Jay, 17, who has family connections to the legendary Coatbridge coach, beat Nathan Lundie to the youth 60kg title on a 3-2 split decision at the Holiday Inn Glasgow Airport on November 30.
That resulted in him being awarded the Boxing Scotland Rab Bannan Memorial Shield on what was an emotional night for Jay and his family.
Dad Chris was himself an accomplished boxer who trained under Rab Bannan, and coaches Jay and others at Auchengeich ABC in Stepps.
Chris said: “Jay has done great in the last couple of seasons. He has actually won the Western Districts three times, he’s won the William Wallace Box Cup and Golden Gloves, so he’s doing pretty well.
“When Rab died three years ago they created a shield in his memory, so the Rab Bannan Memorial Shield is given to the best youth boxer of the tournament.
“Jay is the first boxer from Coatbridge to win the shield, and it was a bit poignant, because I used to box for Rab, and we’ve still got a connection to his family. It was a big thing for us, it was a bit emotional the night when he won that.”
Chris says former St Ambrose High pupil Jay has thrown himself into the sport and added: “Jay is really dedicated, he trains out of the gym at Auchengeich Boxing Club. He’s there four or five times a week, he does his running, he looks after himself and is really dedicated.
“He started a wee apprenticeship in March, and is a spray-painter at Linwood Coachworks, who are his main sponsor.”
Jay will defend his Golden Gloves title in the new year and is on a pathway for the Elite group at Boxing Scotland, with a try-out in February.
Boxing runs in the family, and Jay has plenty of advice available, with an impressive team around him.
“I was an amateur champion, a Scottish champion, Scotland internationalist,” said Chris. “As a professional boxer I won a British international title, so I did all right and got to a good level.
“I coach Jay, along with Brian Carr, who was an Olympian, and Joe Martin at Auchengeich ABC, so you could say he has a lot of advice!
“He’s on the right path, and he has the right network round about him.”