HAWICK Boxing Club is once again set to punch above its weight.

With more than 40 youngsters climbing between the ropes every week for training sessions at the thinkfitness and Burnfoot gyms, the future of the sport in the town is as bright as ever. And backed by a team of dedicated coaches, many of the young fighters are destined to taste success, with some even being tipped to go on to gain international recognition, if they can dedicate themselves to the noble art.

But the development of this latest crop of talented fighters won't have come as a surprise to those who have followed the boxing scene in the town over the years. Because with the likes of Billy Finn, John Sharkey and Davie Paterson imparting their vast experience to the eager youngsters on an almost daily basis, it's little wonder that the boys have caught the fight 'bug'.

Such is the nature of boxing, though, that it's the fighters who will always grab the limelight, while the trainers rarely receive the praise they so richly deserve.

And with this lack of recognition in mind, it's worth remembering that without the Finns, Sharkeys and Patersons of this world there would be no boxing club. They laid the foundations all those years ago so the youngsters of today could build on them and eventually take the club forward into a new era.

So we say well done Billy, John and Davie and all those who have played their part in nurturing generations of boxers in Hawick. You're contributions have been a real knockout!