Scottish boxer Natalie McKay set for World Amatuer Championships
Oct 29 2008 By Kenny Macdonald
KNOCKOUT Natalie McKay will make boxing history tomorrow when she becomes the first Scottish female to compete in the World Amateur Championships.
The 15-year-old, a member of the Port Glasgow Victoria Club in Renfrewshire jets out to Gothenburg in Sweden with five male fighters to make her competitive debut.
She said: "I am a bit nervous, but even more excited. I am in the 54kgs category as a novice. There is not much competition in Scotland because of my age and as there aren't a lot of female boxers."
McKay, a pupil at Port Glasgow High has two family members in the same club, brother Sean, 16, and step-brother Don Brown, 19, and she added: "They have helped and encouraged me. Sometimes at home we get the gloves on a do a bit of sparring. All the guys at the club are great with me and give me pointers on my boxing."
She is the first girl boxer at the club and head coach Kenny Crighton has been impressed by her battling qualities.
He said: "Natalie spars with the boys and holds her own. She used to do judo and did well there.
"If she boxes as well in Sweden as she does in the gym then she has nothing to fear.
"Boxing is popular with women in Sweden and the championships themselves are the biggest amateur event in the world with more than 600 boxers taking part.
"We went last year for the first time and came back with two gold medals and one silver so hopefully we can have more success.
"This time we are taking five guys and Natalie. She is the first Scottish female to take part and possibly even the first British girl to fight in the world championships.
"There is not much in the way of competition for her in Scotland so this will get her some experience."
McKay, told how she has been backed by her school pals and added: "Some of them call me Million Dollar Baby after the film and they all want me to do well.
"I only joined the club a year ago. I had been doing judo before that and won gold medals five years in a row at different categories but I have always wanted to try boxing.
"I asked at the local club and they let me join. My two brothers are there and Don won a gold last year at the same championships."n's sport has come on leaps and bounds so it's high time there was equal opportunity at the Olympics."
