BARRHEAD boxer Gary Rae was tipped for the top by his last opponent Brett Fidoe after Rae’s points victory over the Englishman last month.

Fidoe has faced up to newly crowned WBC International Flyweight champion Andrew Selby and former EBU (European) Flyweight title holder Kevin Satchell as recently as last year.

Selby is the only fighter to knock out Fidoe in his 38 professional fights, but former Barrhead ABC fighter Rae came through comfortably on points.

And the 28-year-old revealed Fidoe had words of encouragement for Rae after the bout.

He said: “Brett has fought guys like Andrew Selby and Kevin Satchell, Selby is the only fighter to stop him. In the back of my mind I knew a knockout would send a big message out.

“After the fight Brett and his coach told me I would go far, considering who he has been in with that was really nice to hear.”

The win was Rae’s second in as many professional fights and he admitted he still has room for improvement as he bids to climb the pro ranks.

He said: “The last fight went okay, I’m not overly enthusiastic about my performance. I won the fight quite cleanly but I didn’t get the punches off enough.

“I was maybe looking for the big shot too much. I need to just let the punches flow instead of going for the knockout, if I let them flow the way I can, I know the knockout will come.

“I was a bit too eager to impress. It was good to get rounds under my belt though, I do the rounds all the time in training but I hadn’t gone any distance under pressure on fight night. I felt great at the end, I could’ve done a few more rounds.”

Rae will be back in action at the Paisley Lagoon Centre on Friday, March 3 with his opponent still to be announced. Tickets are available from Gary at £40, £60 and £80, contact 07498098875 for more details.