Carluke boxer’s pasta secret

Jack (13), of Greenfield Road, wowed the crowd at Ravenscraig Sports Facility in Motherwell by becoming the first Cleland Amateur Boxing Club member to win this top title in three consecutive years.

“My legs were absolutely dead after my semi-final victory,” Jack said. “I couldn’t feel them at all.”

But after swiftly downing a bowl of pasta and glass of water, Jack said he was “absolutely buzzing” for the 57kg 1999 final contest.

This third and historic West District triumph for Jack, a second year Carluke High pupil, came when he easily romped home 13-2 on points against Jack Kennedy of Broadway ABC after three rounds of two minutes.

The Carluke lad said he’d been confident of winning after finding out that inexperienced Kennedy had fought only five times compared to his 18 previous contests.

Ferocious left uppercuts and straight right hand punches by Jack swiftly had Kennedy on the back foot.

“I could see he was really nervous and shaken up,” Jack said.

“I got him with several good combinations and I ended up winning easily.”

The gold medal Jack received for his triumph completed the West District treble after he’d won at 42kg in 2011 and at 50kg in 2012.

“Winning at West District level for three years in a row is a great honour for me,” Jack said.

“It feels really good to have made history. My achievement will go into the record books so nobody can take it away.

“And I’ll be trying to go for four in a row next year, when I’ll hopefully break my own record. I feel pretty confident that I’ll win it again.”

Jack’s 2013 triumph came after he’d earlier completed a semi-final victory on countback over Tyler Jolly of Bravehearts ABC.

“It was a hard fight,” Jack said.

“This was the fourth time we’d fought each other so we knew one another really well.

“Fortunately, my jab was working really well and I caught him with a few good shots.”

Jack, who trains for two hours three times a week under the guidance of Ronnie Blackburn, excels at skipping, sparring and circuit training.

Also coached by Kenny Davidson, James Docherty and Joe Townsley, Jack’s next big aim is to represent Scotland at the 2016 Commonwealth Games.