Tommy Gilmour insisted yesterday that Scottish boxing is on a high in spite of Alex Arthur failing in his attempt to retain his world super-featherweight title against Nicky Cook last weekend, writes Jim Black.

The promoter, who manages British feather-weight title-holder Paul Appleby, pointed out that he could have three more champions by the end of the year, with Paisley's Kevin McIntyre also in the frame to win a Lonsdale Belt.

He said: "Jamie Coyle challenges Ryan Rhodes for his light-middleweight title a week on Saturday and Stevie McGuire and Lee McAllister are the mandatory challengers for the super-middleweight and lightweight crowns respectively.

"When you consider that Appleby is already a British champion and that McIntyre is the mandatory challenger for the welterweight title, I think it is fair to say that Scottish boxing is in a pretty healthy state and very competitive."

Coyle, 32, from Bannockburn, is first up in the quest to bring five British titles to Scotland over the course of the next four months.

Yet, all seemed lost for the former slaughterhouse worker when he attempted to turn professional following a successful amateur career that yielded five Scottish championships.

Coyle, bidding to become the first Scot to hold a Lonsdale Belt at the weight, was refused a licence by the British Boxing Board of Control seven years ago on the grounds that his eyesight did not meet the required standard.

Following surgery, Coyle contacted Gilmour for a second time and he arranged for the boxer to be re-examined by the BBBC, who subsequently passed him fit.

Gilmour recalled: "I had always wanted to sign Jamie because he has so much character and talent. Jamie will be the underdog, but he is not going to Sheffield simply for a career best pay-day."