Tain boxer Steven Munro becomes Northern District champion for first time amid busy Highland Boxing Academy schedule
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Highland Boxing Academy’s Steven Munro secured a long-awaited first title last weekend as he became Northern District champion.
The 26-year-old won the gold medal in the under-81 kilogram light heavyweight category, a major honour that has always been Munro’s primary target.
He had to do it the hard way, though, coming close on several occasions as he racked up 26 competitive bouts without managing to take that final step.
However, against former Scottish novice middleweight champion Lee Bruce, who fights out of Lochaber Phoenix, in the men’s elite final last weekend Munro finally managed to add the accomplishment to his record.
Typically, it was a hard-fought battle against an opponent who was eager to take an open class title to add to his previous novice crown, and both boxers attempted to land heavy shots from the opening bell.
That intensity carried on throughout, with Munro and Bruce each getting standing counts in the second and third rounds respectively, but Munro’s relentless pressure and ring positioning swung the judges’ scorecards in his favour.
Munro’s triumph came in the middle of a busy period for HBA that sees them host their own show next weekend, as well as seeing professional Ben Bartlett headline Northern Sporting Club’s first ever show in Inverness on Saturday night.
The occasion will not get to him according to head coach Liam Foy, though, who added: “The most important thing to him, myself and the team is that he wins.
“He’s an aggressive boxer, he’s fast and he’s got power in his hands, so he’s always tough to match in the gym for sparring because he’s so powerful.
“His boxing style is just naturally entertaining, but the most important thing is a win. I’m sure he’d rather get that over being entertaining, so that’s what he’s trying to build on just now.”
