A GALASHIELS boxer can "go as far as he wants in the sport" after claiming a national championship crown, according to one of his coaches.

Jack Swaney won the Boxing Scotland Golden Gloves Elite Championship cruiserweight title after stopping Paul Greville, of East Renfrewshire’s Barrhead Boxing Club, at Motherwell’s Ravenscraig Sports Facility on Saturday (April 15).

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The 22-year-old became the first Galashiels Boxing Club fighter to qualify for a final after wins over Glasgow’s Rob Roy Boxing Club’s Sohaib Anaib and Kirkcaldy’s Kingdom Boxing Club’s 40-bout veteran Davy Nelson.

And now he has created history by bringing the belt back to the Borders.

Border Telegraph: Jack Swaney

A delighted Swaney said: “I’m feeling really good but it’s all a bit surreal at the moment. I was confident going into the fight because I knew what I was up against and that confidence paid off.

“I won the first round and was in control in the second and he got frustrated and dived in. I caught him with a left and he fell awkwardly and hurt his leg.

“But a stoppage is a stoppage, so I’ll take that. He couldn’t continue and the ref stopped the fight.

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“There was a good crowd from Gala including a few pals, my family and the committee, and I was so glad that they were there to see the victory.”

Coach Jim Gow, who was in Swaney’s corner, said: “It was an emotional evening with a few tears but it was absolutely brilliant. This is the club’s 10th year and it’s a big year for us. We all wanted Jack to win for him but also to show the club is going in the right direction.

“Jack was well on top when the ref stopped the fight and everyone at the club is proud of him.

“This tournament was his first at cruiserweight and he sailed through the quarter final and beat a 40-bout veteran in the semis. He is very mobile which is unusual because at that weight boxers tend to stand and slug it out.

“Jack can now go as far as he wants in the sport. He has phenomenal hand speed for a cruiserweight and now has that self belief."

Fellow coach Steven Ross added: “[It has been] brilliant from Jack in all three of his bouts in the championships. He has put the hard work in over the years which is now starting to show and deserves every bit of this success.”

Coach Jack Grieve said: “Swaney's worked relentlessly to make this come true and I’m glad he has achieved what he has been working for as there is nobody that deserves it more.”

Swaney will be back in action in the Gala Boxing Club’s Home Show at the Volunteer Hall on May 27. And he promises to bring his new belt along.