Motherwell boxer hopes India trip boosts Commonwealth hopes

MOTHERWELL boxer Michael Roberts is heading off to India for a Commonwealth Games dress rehearsal.

The Forgewood ABC man celebrated his 23rd birthday on Sunday and a medal at the Commonwealth Federation Championships in New Delhi would be the perfect belated present.

He and five other Scots flew to Malta this week for a five-day training camp before moving on to India where Roberts will be the first Scot to fight at the new 56kg weight.

Categories have been revised recently and Roberts, who always fought at 57kg (featherweight), has stepped down to the new class which replaces the 54kg (bantamweight) category.

His dad, also Michael, said: "I believe Michael has every chance of a medal. I was a boxer myself but he has more talent than I had."

Roberts will return to New Delhi in October for the Commonwealth Games so this trip will provide valuable experience of boxing in testing conditions.