A ten-year-old school boy from West Lothian won the Scottish Schoolboy Boxing Championship in his first ever tournament.
Young Braiden Crookston, from Fauldhouse Boxing Club, won the Scottish Schoolboy Championship in Glasgow in the very first tournament he was permitted to compete in at the 29.5kg category for his age group. Children are not allowed to compete any younger than ten so this was Braiden’s first opportunity to test himself competitively.
His coach Willie Kerr said: “I am Braiden’s Papa and have been training him since he was five years old, and he always showed great potential. He is so keen and the first ever schoolboy champion at the club.”
Fauldhouse Boxing Club took along five young fighters to the championships that were fought over two weekends, from February 22 to February 29, but it was only Braiden, from Whitburn, who won a medal.
Willie continued: “The first two fights were held in Ravenscraig. The quarter-final was on the Saturday, then the semi-final was on the Sunday and the final was the next weekend at the Scottish Performance Centre in Bridegton. Braiden done very well and we were all very proud.”
When asked if the young prodigy from Croftmalloch Primary had eyes on a career in the sport Willie was noncommittal. He said: “It is still early to be talking about that but he has great potential already so we will see.”
Next up for Braiden will be the Eastern District Championships in June.
Fauldhouse Boxing Club run classes for children every Wednesday from 6:00-7:30pm at Parkview Sport & Recreation Centre, Fauldhouse.
