Charlie Flynn added Team Scotland’s 50th medal of the Glasgow Games and. fittingly, the half century was reached with Gold for the lightweight boxer from Motherwell. Not to be outdone, Josh Taylor, in the next bout also emerged victorious to add a second Boxing Gold to the impressive tally, in an action packed afternoon at The SSE Hydro.
Flynn picked up exactly where he left off in the semi-finals with a commanding performance in the final against Welshman Joe Cordina to take the first Boxing Gold for Scotland at the Games. Having represented Team Scotland at the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2011 he remained unphased by the step up to senior Commonwealth competition.
“Unbelievable, absolutely unbelievable,” said Flynn after being awarded the win by unanimous decision. “I was feeling tired in the ring and I could feel it, but the crowd, they give you that energy they give you that buzz…and I’d like to thank the crowd because, honestly, they give you the extra in there.”
For Taylor, Namibia’s Junias Jonas was all that stood between him and a complete set of Commonwealth medals. He took Bronze at the Youth Games in Pune in 2008, Silver in Delhi two years later and was determined to make it Gold in Glasgow. The Prestonpans light-welterweight was more than up to the challenge, boxing well from the off, and was two rounds up and cruising before seeing out the third.
“I’m over the moon,” said an elated Taylor. “I dreamed about this a thousand times over and standing on top of the podium there, it doesn’t feel real, it’s just surreal, it’s overwhelming. Seeing my family there at the front as well makes it all magic.”
Taylor took up boxing after watching Scottish boxing legend Alex Arthur, the 1998 Commonwealth Games Gold medallist. Perhaps Taylor will now have provided some inspiration of his own.

Photo Credit: Jeff Holmes