KID gloves Jimmy Ramsden is targeting national glory after becoming the 69kg welterweight Eastern District Boxing champion.

The 16-year-old from Inverkeithing defeated Adam Philip of Broxburn Boxing Club by a unanimous decision to lift the title for youths born in 1998.

The triumph at Danderhall adds to the gold medal Ramsden won in the 70kg junior boy category at the Boxing Scotland Novice Championships in November.

Now the Dunfermline Boxing Club member is focused on taking on the country’s best at the Boxing Scotland Intermediate Championships at Ravenscraig, Motherwell, on 30th January and 1st February for boxers with 7-14 bouts of experience.

Tommy Canon, the youngster’s coach and head of the boxing club, said, “He has stepped up from the novice championships and won with a unanimous decision.

“He only had one bout because it is hard at 16 to find opponents at that weight, so it was a straight final but once he reaches 18 or 19 he’ll get more bouts.

“Before this tournament he had been boxing rounds of a minute and a half, but these lasted three and was the first time he had boxed three three-minute rounds.

“There is a big difference and he needs to learn to control his body for that, but I only told him about it seconds before he went into the ring otherwise it would’ve played on his mind.

“He boxed really well and in the first and third rounds he was well in front, moved well and made a lot of counter punches.

“He is impressing me all the time but it is getting harder for him each year. He has the intermediates in two weeks and I expect he will have six or seven fights there. He just needs to keep it going.” He continued, “He jogs from Inverkeithing to Dunfermline every night the boxing’s on - and sometimes on a Wednesday for extra training - so he has the commitment. The next step is hopefully the Scottish juniors.”