Boxer gets Top 10 ranking

WARRINGTON amateur heavyweight boxer Mike McKay has received a Top 10 ranking after reaching the quarter finals of the England Boxing Elite championships.
He lost out narrowly to highly experienced Commonwealth Games star Krystian Borucki on a split decision.
McKay, of Warrington’s Hook and Jab Amateur Boxing Club, lost a closely contested quarter Manx boxer.
He made a tentative start in the first round, but began to gain confidence from the second round onwards. In the third and final round, McKay began to assert his strength over his opponent and came close
to stealing victory.
There was no shame in defeat for McKay, who was making only his 14th appearance in a ring and facing an incredibly experienced opponent. Borucki has fought almost 150 contests, represented the Isle of Mann at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi and will be fighting at
the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
The England Boxing Elite Championships took place in Liverpool, is the nation’s most prestigious amateur boxing competition and has been a springboard for success for some of Britain’s most famous boxing
stars, such as Ricky Hatton, Carl Froch and John Conteh.
After hitting the heights of the quarter finals, McKay, who is also the current Merseyside and Cheshire Heavyweight Champion, was ranked by Boxing News Magazine as the 10th best amateur heavyweight boxer in the country.
His coach, Derek Groarke, of Hook and Jab, said: “Mike is a talented prospect and showed this when he took on a world class opponent in only his 14th fight.
“Fighting in a big arena, at a famous tournament, was a big occasion for Mike, so it took him some time to settle into the fight. However, he soon found his rhythm and in the final rounds proved his boxing skills
and strength.”
Picture: Mike McKay (left) during the bout.