Paul Appleby, the 21-year-old British featherweight champion from South Queensferry, followed in the footsteps of a distinguished line of Scots boxers yesterday when he was named Young Fighter of the Year.

The honour has been bestowed on Appleby by the Boxing Writers' Club in recognition of his victory over former champion John Simpson of Greenock in June to claim the Lonsdale Belt and preserve his perfect record.

Appleby will hope that he can emulate the feats of countrymen Walter McGowan, Ken Buchanan, Scott Harrison and Alex Arthur by becoming world champion.

Meanwhile, welterweight Kevin McIntyre hit back yesterday at Sheffield opponent Kell Brook's claim that the Paisley boxer will be out of his depth when he attempts to reclaim the British title at the end of this month.

Brook won the vacant Lonsdale Belt after McIntyre was stripped of the title by the BBBC for failing to make a mandatory defence in time due to a back injury.

Brook fought Barrie Jones instead, stopping his opponent in seven rounds at York Hall to be crowned champion, and he has since pledged to do the same to McIntyre at Aston Villa Leisure Centre, Birmingham on October 31.

But McIntyre, who has made a complete recovery, retorted: "Brook should show more respect. If he can last into the championship rounds, he will quickly discover that he is the one who is out of his depth.

"He seems to think I have been running scared of him, but I had no choice but to withdraw from our last scheduled meeting. I have too much respect for the British title to enter the ring with an injury which would have severely hampered my performance."