PAUL APPLEBY vs ESHAM PICKERING

It looks a case of two trains going in opposite directions when unbeaten Scottish featherweight Paul Appleby defends his British title against veteran Esham Pickering in Glasgow on Friday.

Appleby, 21, showed youthful enthusiasm when battling his way to a hard-fought points win over more experienced John Simpson to win the title in June.

In that same month, Pickering, 32, had the look of an ageing fighter when losing on points to Matthew Marsh in a British 122-pound title bout.

Now Pickering moves up four pounds to try to reignite a stalled career.

Appleby is the obvious favourite, especially as the bout is on his home turf in Scotland, but the bout has some intrigue. Pickering, a former European champion at 122 pounds, has a big advantage in experience — 40 bouts to Appleby’s 12. Appleby is one of Britain’s brightest prospects for bigger things, but he got hit by a few too many right hands for comfort in the bout with Simpson and in the end he won it on punch-rate and determination as much as anything.

That was a wonderful learning fight for Appleby, and I think he might well show improvement on Friday, if only a bit more patience and an increased steadiness in his attack.

Pickering is a good test for the still relatively inexperienced champion. Even though he now seems to be past his best, Pickering has been in a lot of title fights and his only inside-schedule loss came in a world title challenge eight years ago when he was caught cold and knocked out in 72 seconds by Panama’s Mauricio Martinez.

At one time Pickering was a classy fighter with speed, combinations and loads of confidence, but he has clearly slowed down and is getting hit more than was once the case. His decline showed when he was outpointed by the averagely talented southpaw Sean Hughes last November.

True, Pickering was much sharper in the rematch when he overcame a shaky start to hammer Hughes in nine rounds, but he just couldn’t cope with the busy, spirited boxing of Matthew Marsh in his last fight. Apart from a gritty rally in the middle rounds, Pickering was struggling to keep up with the younger Londoner.

Maybe it well help Pickering to be boxing at featherweight after more than five years in the bantam and super bantam divisions — he had boxed as a featherweight earlier in his career and weight making must have become a struggle in the past year or so.

With his 12-year experience and perhaps feeling stronger at the heavier weight, Pickering can, I believe, give Appleby a good fight, but I will be surprised if he can find the flashy form of his best years. Sadly, when it’s gone, it’s gone for good. I think that Appleby will begin to overwhelm Pickering with his pressure and body punches as the fight goes into the later rounds. Pickering is a proud, very game fighter who will never give up but I can see Appleby winning this fight on a late-round stoppage, maybe in the 10th or 11th round.