Boxing: Border crossing for new Scotland captain Benson

County Durham on Friday, where he will be joined by his middleweight clubmate Tommy Philbin.

Benson, who fights Sean Moore, has been given the armband as reward for an impressive season and he said: “This show will set me up nicely for the Scottish Senior championships early in the new year and a win would nicely round off what has been a great year for me.

“I have only been beaten once in my last five fights and that was in England boxing for Scotland against the Army in November where I pushed British Army champion and ABA Gold medal winner Martin Steed all the way to the wire before losing on points.’’

Benson won the Eastern title the hard way, beating former light-welterweight champions Jason Easton (Craigmillar) and Bannockburn’s James Thomson.

Philbin had a disappointing international tournament in Finland recently and is looking to bounce back against Lewis Scott, saying: “I’m hoping to get back into my winning ways.”