Gilmour: 'Lonsdale loser will be on minimum wage' by Imran Azam Feb 28th 2008

Tommy Gilmour believes the fans are in for treat this Friday when Kevin McIntyre and Kevin Anderson clash for the British welterweight title. The Kelvin Hall Sports Arena will be close to a 2,000 sell out and according to the veteran promoter the fans won't be disappointed with the all Scottish showdown. Gilmour said: “When is the last time you had a full house for a British title fight? The public want to know if Kevin McIntrye is a one hit wonder or is Kevin Anderson capable of winning back his title. There are only around hundred tickets left. I have had people phone up and say they have ‘never been to a show before' and asking me ‘what's it like?' I told them 'give me your credit card details first and then I will tell you all about it'.” The pair first met last November in Irvine when Paisley's McIntyre knocked down his rival twice on his way to a unanimous decision. Gilmour admits whoever loses the rematch will have no future left in the sport. He added: “I can't see a route back for the loser in the next 18 months to two years. Some people have called me Lazarus in the past because of the way I've brought fighters back, but this time I have nothing up my sleeve. It's very simple the winner can go on to earn good money whilst the loser can look towards the minimum wage.” McIntyre, 29, has a record of 25 fights with five defeats. Working as a postman he has received sponsorship from the Royal Mail's Communications Workers Union that has allowed him to concentrate solely on the fight. He said: “It's the first time in my career that I feel like a professional. I have been training for six weeks and not having to worry about work. I will prove on Friday that my victory last time was no fluke. Becoming British champion has turned me into a local celebrity and I thrive on that. I don't want to give that up so soon.” Anderson on the other hand has been preparing for his do or die clash in Manchester. Speaking via conference call he said: "This is serious. I've had a hunger that I've not had for a long time. This is bigger than the Eamonn Magee fight, which I went into on the back of a defeat but was still British champion. This time I go on with nothing. Kevin did well to beat me last time but I cant fight that badly again and he will have to improve considerably to beat me.”

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