Buckland Gears Up For Difficult Docherty Clash

ByBoxing Press

Welsh lightweight Gary Buckland is in the middle of the training camp of his life as he hopes to regain the Celtic title but the Cardiff native must overcome his most experienced opponent to date, Scotland’s Craig Docherty, if he is to realize this ambition.

The pair clash on the undercard of the European super bantam title rematch between champion Rendall Munroe and challenger Kiko Martinez at the Metrodome in Barnsley, England on Friday, February 27, 2009.

Buckland, 14-1 (5), added the Celtic belt to his pre-existing Welsh Area title with a dominant ten round points victory over seasoned campaigner Martin Watson in October, 2007 but the 22 year old saw his 14 bout unbeaten streak come grinding to a halt last June as he suffered a shock one point loss to light welter Ben Murphy.

For Buckland to regain the Celtic crown, he’ll have to stifle the comeback hopes of Docherty, 22-4-1 (9), a battle hardened veteran who has tangled with the best of Britain since turning pro over ten years ago.

The 29 year old from Glasgow bashed his way to an unsuccessful British super featherweight title shot as an undefeated challenger to Michael Gomez in 2001 but regrouped to win the Commonwealth crown in 2003 by knocking out Dean Pithie.

Two title defenses later, Docherty narrowly missed knocking off European champion Boris Sinitsin, losing a majority decision before suffering a KO loss to future WBO champion Alex Arthur in 2005 for the British and Commonwealth belts in a massive Scotland showdown in Edinburgh.

Since then, Docherty has gone 4-1 after moving up to lightweight and will test Buckland like no one the Welshman has faced to date. “The Glasgow Grinder” has promised to produce impressive results behind a withering body assault, generating openings for his sharp right hand.

It’s the type of pairing that has made the British boxing scene the most competitive in the world and this crossroads clash should make for an impressive display of fireworks.

Frank Maloney Promotions presents Rendall Munroe vs. Kiko Martinez for the Super Bantamweight Championship of Europe with full supporting undercard at the Metrodome in Barnsley, England on Friday, February 27, 2009.

Tickets are priced at £75 and £35 and are available by logging onto www.frankmaloney.com or by calling the Box Office at 0871 226 1508.

Sky Sports will televise the action live on SS1 starting at 10PM.