A PIPER’S bid to step into the boxing ring and raise money in the fight against cancer has been temporarily KO’d.

Grant Campbell had been due to take on a yet-to-be-announced opponent in aid of Cancer Research UK at a special event in Dundee last month.

However, the coronavirus outbreak caught the fighters with a low blow and stopped the bout before the opening bell.

Fortunately, the teenager, who is a member of Haddington Pipe Band, is getting ready to pull himself up off the canvas, with the bout to be rescheduled.

He said: “Sadly, it was called off.

“They were pushing to still have it on but they sadly had to cancel it, obviously, due to the circumstances.”

The 19-year-old was due to pull on the gloves for an Ultra White Collar Boxing event in aid of the charity.

Originally from Haddington, Grant was seven weeks into the eight-week training programme ahead of the big fight.

He said: “I’ve not got a clue when it will take place now.

“Something at the start of the next semester would be a guess.

“We had just started week seven and were about a week away from getting everything finalised.

“I had only two more training sessions.

“I was feeling brilliant, had been training hard and was in the best shape of my life.

“I was feeling a lot better about it and confident but now you have got to take a step back.”

Each of the boxers involved will now get another eight-week training programme ahead of the rescheduled date, which is yet to be announced.

Boxers from Abertay University, where Grant is completing his second year in business management, square off against rivals from Dundee University in aid of Cancer Research UK, which funds pioneering research to bring forward the day when all cancers are cured.

Ahead of the bout, Grant, who has played the pipes for more than eight years and is a member of Haddington Pipe Band, as well as the City of Discovery Pipe Band, had collected about £370, with the money still going forward to the charity.

When the student steps in the ring, he will be looking to avenge a defeat last year when he made his debut in front of 600 people.

Previously, he told the Courier: “It was brilliant and a surreal experience walking out and the whole crowd is chanting your name.

“I did not realise that many people would be there supporting me.

“A friend recorded it and looking back you can really notice where you could improve.

“I am able to look at it and see where I went wrong but the fight was brilliant.

“The person I fought was very respectful and we are friends now.”

To support Grant, go to justgiving.com/fundraising/grant-campbell33