Bobby Morrell ready to enter the Gladiators arena as fight chiefs look to set up Scotland's new home of boxing
Bobby Morrell admits he’s gunning for revenge after landing another shot at Welsh rival Aaron Bird at Scotland’s new boxing HQ.
The Glasgow light-heavyweight lost his unbeaten start to the pro ranks when he went down to a split decision against the Welshman in June. But the pair will meet again at the top of the card at the St Andrews Sporting Club’s Gladiator’s 2 show on February 8 at the Caledonia Gladiators Arena.
The first fight night in East Kilbride was a roaring success with promoters looking to host four events a year in the future are securing a deal with the basketball outfit. Morrell will top the bill in the first one of 2025 – and he’s determined to get his revenge on Bird and get his hands on the belt. The 29-year-old said: “It’s a huge motivation. The loss was a big of a blessing in disguise because I learned a lot and now I’m getting this opportunity, the fight will be televisions and in front of a big crowd.
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“I’m buzzing for it and want to put on a show. I can win the Celtic title on a big platform and then go from there. It’s great to be headlining. I learned more from the first fight than in any other fight I won. You realise over 10 rounds some fighters are more resilient than you expected.
“I thought early on I could take him out but it is about conserving your energy properly and waiting for the best opportunity. Over more rounds it a different kind of contest and as someone who is not that experienced in those bouts, it was a good lesson.
“I said when I started I wanted to get out and get the biggest fights possibly. There’s no point in me fighting nobodies for years. You could spent five yers building up some unbeaten record but it can be meaningless if you are not challenging yourself.
“You want to find out how good you are and how good you can be. I believe there is much more to come. Hopefully I can right a few wrongs from the first fight, I win the title and it can kick a few doors open.”
Martin Crossan also has a crack at redemption against Kurt Jackson after losing to the Yorkshireman last month in a Commonwealth Youth title rematch, while Jake Limond will get a title shot and local favourites Jack Turner, Josh Sandman and Lewis Donnelly on the card along with Glasgow ace Cassidy Todd and others to follow.
St Andrew’s Sporting Club chief Iain Wilson wants to make the superb EK arena a new platform for Scotland’s rising fight stars. He said: “We’re looking to do four shows a year here. It’s a unique set up here and it gives the boxers a real platform with the fact they are fighting in front of big crowds in a fantastic arena and broadcast on television.
“It’s huge experience for them. We obviously have the St Andrews Sporting Club nights, which is something we pride ourselves on. But it would be second home and it would be great to make this a real HQ for Scottish boxing. We want to bring real 50-50 title fights here on a regular basis.
“That’s what the public – and the boxers – want. You will always need development fights but you want them to have ambition to challenge themselves. It gets the boxers out there and people taking notice.”