Back-to-back wins for Caithness teenage boxer Koby Stewart
A teenage boxer from Caithness has been praised for his "absolutely brilliant” achievement after back-to-back wins over consecutive weekends.
Koby Stewart (15), from Bower, was victorious at Lochaber Phoenix Boxing Club's home show in Fort William before repeating his success at Lochee Amateur Boxing Club's event in Dundee.
The Caithness Boxing Club member was competing at 57kg.
They were Koby's second and third fights after he had been beaten in his first.
Caithness Boxing Club's founder and head coach Liall Mackenzie said: “We've been really working on a specific style with Koby to play to his strengths. For his weight he's a bit shorter but quite stocky and muscular.
“His confidence was a huge thing as well. He was kind of lacking in confidence a little bit, so we've been working on him for months and months and we've seen him changing and he's just like a totally different lad now than he was six months ago.
“For him to come in and win two fights back-to-back is absolutely brilliant.”
Liall added: "Some people come in and you can tell straight away they're naturally talented, although there's always loads to work on with them. With Koby, he lost that first one and I think he was lacking in confidence.
"We worked on him and worked on him – not just with the physical side of things and the skill side of things, but his mindset. We were constantly dropping little comments and little messages.
"He came in those two fights and he just went for it.
"In boxing, especially amateur, you've got to get on top of your opponent right away and get the upper hand. It just all came together."
Koby overcame Lochaber's Callum MacLean.
Two other Caithness Boxing Club members took part in the Fort William event.
Alex Curlis (15), from Thurso, was fighting for only the second time and lost on points to Toby Jackson in a tough, close bout.
Liall said: "Unfortunately he came up just short. We have confidence the wins will come for Alex given that little bit more experience."
Kieran Hourston (16), from Wick, was involved in a "skills bout" with Daniel Millar, with no winner declared at the end.
"It's just about showing their skills and putting on a show for the crowd," Liall said.
"Myself and coach Richard Thurling were very happy with how Kieran boxed. His progress was very evident and we look forward to his future in the sport."
Koby, Alex and Kieran are among six Caithness Boxing Club members competing in the 2022 Boxing Scotland National Development Championships, formerly known as the novice championships, at the Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility in Motherwell over the first two weekends of November. The others are Nathan Tait, Ewan Donald (both Thurso) and Alisha Mackay (Wick).