Homecoming hero Fraser Wilkinson ready for his first crack at Scottish middleweight title against Ben McGivern in front of a partisan Elgin Town Hall crowd

“The stablisers are off” says Moray boxer Fraser Wilkinson ahead of his third Scottish professional title fight this weekend.

Wilkinson (23) has moved up from super welterweight to middleweight to take on current Celtic title holder Ben McGivern over ten rounds for the vacant Scottish belt at Elgin Town Hall on Saturday.

Originally from Hopeman and recently living in Forres, ‘Wilko’ is now based in Aberdeen to work more closely with his trainer and manager, David McAllister, who he says has him in prime shape for his tenth pro bout.

His previous nine have been at super welterweight, where he claimed the Scottish title in 2022 in Elgin against Arbroath’s Corey McCulloch, before losing the rematch in Dundee almost exactly a year ago.

Two victories since then made the former Elgin Amateur Boxing Club star eager to pick up another title and he has the opportunity on Saturday.

His opponent, from Airdrie, won the Celtic middleweight title last March then stepped up to super middleweight to fight Sam Johnstone for the Scottish title in February - but he lost after sustaining a nasty cut in the first round.

“I think this is his tenth fight and the fourth time he has had a title fight,” Wilkinson said. “He is no stranger to a ten round fight and he is going to come game. He has sold tickets for it as well so he must be gunning for it.

“Every fight for me now is going to be like a world title. You have to get geed up more for the ones that mean more.

“For me now, the stabilisers are off. It’s going to be a case of taking the fights that I can get. I am still in a learning process.

“I have not looked at this boy at all. I have just put in the work and I am expecting him to come here and put in his absolute best on the night.

“But I am convinced that my best can beat his best, and I wouldn't be taking the fight if I didn’t think that.”