FAST-rising Kilbirnie boxer Robbie McKechnie is aiming to follow in the footsteps of Charlie "The Mailman" Flynn by delivering Commonwealth Games title success in Australia next year.

Robbie (23) recently learned he had been called up to the Team Scotland squad for the event, which is being held on Australia's Gold Coast next April - four years after the successful Glasgow Games.

He will compete in the 64kgs light welterweight event and will almost immediately get down to business on his preparations.T

The former Garnock Academy pupil, who boxed at Garnock Valley ABC until he was 14 and is now at Greenock Boxing Club, goes into the event in great shape.

He said: “To meet selection criteria I was competing in events which ran from February until November and I was delighted when I heard I was in the squad. I won two Scottish titles in a row and won a silver medal at the World Championships in Wales in May. I also got a bronze medal in an international tournament in Finland and won my prelimimary round fight at the European Championships in Ukraine. I will start training soon and just have a short break for Christmas.”

Added Robbie: “Charlie Flynn beat me in a final a few years ago and it would be great if I could emulate him and win a gold medal. He has done well since the Commonwealth Games.”

|He is looking forward to the Games and said: England (GB team basically) are probably the biggest threat as they got seven into the European finals in June, also Australia with the obvious home backing. And aye I’d say this is the biggest event for amateur boxing outwith the Olympics. For Boxing Scotland Ltd it’s the big aim every four years to produce the best team possible, it’s the main focus that they put their funding toward.”

Fraser Walker, Interim CEO, Boxing Scotland Ltd welcomed the news and said: “We have much to live up to following one of our most successful ever Commonwealth Games performances at Glasgow 2014. I am delighted and thankful that the Commonwealth Games Selection panel has shown faith in us and confirmed the selection of nine boxers at this stage.”