Young Appleby the Eurostar? by Tom Walker Jun 12th 2008

Paul Appleby, the newly crowned British featherweight champion, is being directed towards a European title shot, when it emerged on Monday that the Tommy Gilmour, the 20-year-old's manager, has already had preliminary discussions with European Boxing Union representatives. Appleby became one of the youngest Scotsmen to win a coveted Lonsdale belt when he won a unanimous points decision against John Simpson of Greenock at the Kelvin Hall last Friday. Now the undefeated South Queensferry boxer could face the winner of the showdown for the vacant European crown between Ukrainian Oleg Yefimovich and Sergio Blanco of Spain which is scheduled to take place in Donetsk in the Ukraine on July 8. Tommy Gilmour confirmed: "My European agent, Philippe Fondu, is Yefimovich's manager and I have already spoken with him with a view to Appleby fighting the winner in Scotland in September or October. "There are three directions Appleby can go in. He can make a defence of his British title, look at fighting for the Commonwealth, or take the European route and that is the one we favour." Appleby's showing on Friday evening will have given him the necessary confidence in his own ability (not that he lacked belief in any event) that he can mix it with the best featherweights on this side of the pond at any rate. Indeed having spent time in Freddie Roach's gym in LA sparring with no less than Manny Pacquiao, he exudes confidence in every pore. Sparring is not fighting but you can be assured that someone of Pacquiao's ability and pride is not going to take it easy on anyone who gets into the ring with him.

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