Meet Blantyre’s battling duo who, in April 1977, gave Scotland’s best junior boxers the old ‘one-two’.
During the first weekend of April 1977, Blantyre Miners Welfare Amateur Boxing Club stars Billy Nicholas (16), and Hugh ‘Sugar’ Kelly (15) won their sections in the Scottish Amateur Boxing Association’s Western District finals.
They made the papers for it meant that Hugh, of Livingstone Crescent, and Billy, of Auchinraith Terrace, qualified for the Scottish Finals, at Meadowbank. Always good to look back on the accomplishments of Blantyre folks.
On Social Media, the following comments were received on Facebook:
Tom McGuigan Sugar was a good football player too.
Jemma Nicholas My Dad 
miss him so much
Bernadette Mcparland Remember Sugar well. He lived behind me.
Moyra Bell Always something good about Blantyre
Davy Thomson Was that punchy?
Davy Nic Davy Thomson Aye
Leigh Montgomery Absolutely love this
William Mullen Punchy n sugar
Geordie Melrose Remember sugar as a pro training Blantyre welfare.
Carol King And Sugar? In the Guinness book of records for ‘the fastest knock out’ in a boxing match! I’m not sure but it was literally after the bell!and his nephew Joseph? Sugar’s double!
Anne Brown my cousin is willy nicholas on right who sadly passed away now.
Hugh Sugar Kelly For the record I lived in Stanley place not Livingston Cresent
Davy Nic My cousin Punchy, his brother Jim was not too bad as well, both got me started at Blantyre ABC