A Galloway boxer is homing in on a medal after a stunning Commonwealth Games debut for Scotland in Birmingham.
Tyler Jolly stepped into the ring against Jamaica’s Daniel Hylton and stopped his opponent inside 20 seconds with a fierce left hook to the body.
Now the Bravehearts fighter will meet Neville Warupi of Papua New Guinea in the welterweight division quarter-final today.
Should he win the bout the Whithorn hitman will be guaranteed at least a bronze medal. And only one more opponent would then stand between the talented 23-year-old and a shot at gold.
Speaking after Tuesday’s scintillating performance, he told Boxing Scotland: “It was short and sweet – I’m just happy to get him and it’s on to the next one.
“I could see he was nervous so I thought I would put it on him straight away to see if he could take it.
“He came in perfect with his hands high and I caught him with a left hook to the body.
“I felt my hand going right in – naebody is getting up from thae shots.”
Tyler was the final Scottish boxer to enter the ring at the Games and the sixth to claim a quarter-final place.
He added: “There were some great performances from the team but I think I made my mark.
“I was extremely confident before the tournament and even more so now. This is my time – I’ve paid my dues and been to tournaments for the experience.
“But I’m not here for experience – I’m here for the gold medal.”
Tyler was just 17 when he claimed gold at the Commonwealth Youth Games in the Bahamas in 2017, outpointing Welshman and British champion Jacob Lovell in the final.
“My whole life I have tried to get to this stage of my career,” he said.
