Simmons set for Bulgarian warm-up

LEITH VICTORIA heavyweight contender Steve Simmons will box in Plovdiv, Bulgaria on January 30 at the Strandja Tournament before heading to Pescara, Italy, next month for a crunch Olympic qualifier, writes BRIAN DONALD.

Simmons, who hopes to become the first Scot to box for Great Britain at heavyweight in an Olympics at this summer's games in Beijing, confirmed: "Olympic team manager Terry Edwards told me that, because of a change in plan, I would now be boxing in Pescara so I thought the Bulgarian tournament would be a good warm-up exercise for that.

"I've also learned that three of the outstanding seven Olympic heavyweight berths have now been filled so that's made me even more determined that I get one of the last four places. I'll be stepping up my sparring frequency over the next few weeks because I know what's at stake here."

Meanwhile, Sparta club coach Mark Geraghty has confirmed that five Sparta youngsters will compete in the forthcoming Eastern Youth championships on January 25-26 at Midlothian's Danderhall Community centre.

Said Geraghty: "Lewis Benson and Chris McHale will spearhead our quest for titles."