TMCnet News
Boxing: MITCH HAS TO SWITCH(Daily Record Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)MITCH PRINCE reckons he will have to box clever to win a medal in Melbourne - by ditching his battling style for a more refined approach in the ring. The little Cumbernauld lightweight prefers the rough and tumble of a toe-to-toe scrap but knows amateur judges are looking for clean hitting - so he's prepared to forget his natural instincts until he turns professional. The 21-year-old, born in South Africa but representing the country he has lived in for the past nine years, said: "My style is better suited to the professional game. "I'm more of an inside fighter - more rough and ready rather than someone who hits good clean shots. "I've had to adapt for the Games because judges will be looking for good clean hits. I'll go back to my own style when I turn pro. "Even when I lose amateur bouts I've always come away knowing I'll beat the same guy when we turn professional. My style is good but not really for the way points are counted up in the amateur game. "This is about learning my trade and I will be a good professional. "I haven't thought past the Games - I'll see how they go then start deciding when to turn pro." Prince has honed his preparations at tournaments in Bulgaria and Norway with the Scotland squad and can't wait to head Down Under for the real thing on Tuesday, when a fortnight's hard work will be put in before the Commonwealth Games begin. He said: "I'm really confident, no matter who I have to box when I get there. I can't wait to represent Scotland. This feels like home now. "My parents are both South African but my dad passed away when I was young and my mum met a Scotsman and we both moved over here. "I got into boxing by going down to the local gym with a friend. A few guys went but I was the only one who stuck at it. My whole life is based around boxing now. I was a joiner but I gave it up to pursue my boxing career. "I'm funded by the Scottish Institute of Sport but I am looking at turning pro." Boxing is undergoing a resurgence thanks to the interest created by Amir Khan before he turned pro following his Olympic silver medal success in 2004. Prince said: "Khan has been a huge inspiration to all amateurs. Right after he went pro, about six young Scots did the same within five months. He made a big impact. "The amateur game is harder at international level because you are fighting against the best boxers from the country you are facing." Edinburgh's Craig McEwan would vouch for that. He was denied a place in the final by the narrowest of margins at the last Commonwealth Games in Manchester and the middleweight is looking for gold this time. He has spent time training with American legend Freddie Roache and is determined to make a massive impact in Melbourne. McEwan said: "I was in Los Angeles for a month, training with Freddie and it was different class. "The Scottish Institute of Sport set me up with that as I needed quality sparring because it is just not available in Scotland. "I spar with heavyweights such as Stevie Simmons but I am lighter so they can't punch hard and I have to punch harder than normal just to make sure I'm not bullied around the ring." McEwan is using the memory of the last Games as a massive motivation for this year's event. He added: "I was devastated to lose in the semi-final. I didn't perform in the first round and only woke up in the middle of the fight. "I only just lost and as it was to an Englishman - Paul Smith, who has done well in the pro game - I was even more gutted. "I've waited four years for another chance and I am determined to win gold this time. "I have had offers to turn pro but I'm not even thinking about it until Melbourne is out of the way." |