A RECENTLY-crowned West of Scotland boxing champion will be one of the top stars on the bill when his club stage their first show in Ardrossan later this month.

Matthew McDonald (18) from Girdle Toll, a light welterweight from Irvine Vineburgh Boxing Club stepped up a division to welterweight to fight Willie Kerr from Hamilton in the West of Scotland Championships at Glasgow's Holiday Inn last month.

And he won on a unanimous decision to lift the coveted title.

Club trainer Alex Mullen said: "Matthew fought really well and deserved his win."

He will be joined at the event, organised by Irvine Vineburgh in Ardrossan Civic Centre on Saturday, December 15 by Brooke Neely (13) from Ardrossan, who recently enjoyed a points win In Scunthorpe against a 2018 European gold medallist.

The St Matthew's Academy pupil also won the 46kg schoolgirls title at the Western District Boxing Championships in 46kg at Ashgill Recreation Centre in Glasgow on February 24 and won the Scottish schoolgirl 46kg title in the Scottish Championships at Ravenscraig Sports Centre two weeks later.

Other Irvine area fighters taking part are Mason Salmon (11) from Kilwinning, who competes in the 30 kilos category, Bailey Sillars (13) from Kilwinning (60 kilos) Bailey Sillars (13) from Kilwinning (60 kilos) Lee Sean Collins (13) of Kilwinning (55 kilos) Jay Crossan (13) of Castlepark 36 kilos, Aaron Connor (11) of Irvine (34 kilos) and Bradley Mallinson (16) of Irvine (60 kilos), Also in the line-up are Liam Shields of Dreghorn (60 kilos) and Jody Cairns (16) of Irvine (57 kilos).

Joining Brooke in the Three Towns contingent are twins Jack (13) and Logan McMillan from Stevenston (42 kilos and 37 kilos respectively) Liam McKenzie (16) of Stevenston (64 kilos) and Aidan Gemmell (17) from Stevenston, a lightweight.