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Rising Scottish boxing star Paul Appleby will be put to the test this Friday when the 21 year old sensation puts his British featherweight title on the line against his most experienced and dangerous opponent to date at Kelvin Hall in Glasgow.
The South Queensferry youngster turned professional in January, 2006, following an illustrious amateur career and battered his way up the ranks until gaining a British title shot against fellow Scot John Simpson in June.
After 12 arduous rounds of combat, Appleby, 12-0 (8), was declared the winner by close margins on all three cards but now must put his newly minted belt at risk against highly decorated former triple champion at super bantamweight, Esham Pickering.
Pickering, 33-7 (13), has had many ups and downs during his 12 year career. As a 21 year old in 1998, he lost a British featherweight title bid and two years later was blown out in the first round during a WBO bantamweight title challenge.
It wasn’t until 2003 that Pickering caught fire, winning the Commonwealth super bantamweight crown before adding the British belt one fight later and then the European strap bout bouts after that.
But after two European title defenses, it all came crashing down when “Brown Sugar” lost everything by majority decision against the unbeaten Michael Hunter in 2005.
A year later Pickering had a chance at the vacant European title but was outpointed by Bernard Dunne in Dublin. The Newark man had better luck against Marc Callaghan in 2007 to regain the British title but big cracks in Pickering’s armour began to show during a non-title loss to Sean Hughes later that year although that result was reversed during a rematch for the title this past January.
It all went pear shaped again for Pickering in his most recent outing when he lost the British title to prospect Matthew Marsh, who came into the bout with just ten contests under his belt, in June.
At 32, Pickering will now try his hand at the featherweight division on Glasgow on Friday but will be stepping in with a skilled, confident, larger, taller and younger opponent.
It’s a big ask for the Newark veteran, but if he can turn back the clock and bring a vintage performance, Pickering could once again wear the Lonsdale belt around his waist.
