Nick Campbell stops Jay McFarlane to take Scottish heavyweight title

Scotland has a new heavyweight champion after Nick “The Glasgow Warrior” Campbell stopped Jay “The Ghost” McFarlane in the seventh round.

Campbell started brightly – using his 6’7″ frame to good effect – flicking out his jab and limiting McFarlane, who looked dangerous at times with a big overhand right.

McFarlane entered to Kenny Rodger’s “The Gambler” and he was clearly prepared to gamble on withstanding Campbell’s power in the early going in exchange for a chance at a big shot or two.

If any evidence was needed that the pre-fight narrative of a search for a new heavyweight king had caught the attention, then it was found in the sixth. The referee took several looks at McFarlane who was taking heavy shots from Campbell and the 23 year old responded, showing his heart and grit. Campbell himself too responded with uppercuts from the clinch and the crowd roared both fighters into a seventh.

However, it was there where Campbell’s cleaner work paid dividend. After several shots found their mark McFarlane went down and whilst he answered the count, a stoppage looked likely. After more good work from Campbell and with less coming back from McFarlane, the bout was stopped.

Seven decades on from the last, Scotland has a new heavyweight king.