Chris would glove to be a smash hit; CHRIS MACKIE is the Clydebank star who combines football with boxing so he could be the man to hit Auchinleck Talbot with a knockout blow in Sunday's Scottish Junior Cup Final. Bankies' 24-year-old part-time striker also runs a print firm so he's had a busy build-up to the game. But he still found time to let Record Sport in on his preparations for the big day.

Byline: CHRIS MACKIE; Paul Jain

GRAEME SOUNESS once banned his Rangers stars from playing golf - so I wonder how he'd feel about any of his men entering the boxing ring.

I don't think he'd have been too happy but it's something my gaffer, Budgie McGhie, has to live with.

I'm desperate not to pick up any kind of injury before Sunday's big match but I've got a fight in three weeks so it's vital to stay sharp.

I train at Renfrewshire Boxing Gym in Paisley two or three times a week where coach Ian McLeod, a former Commonwealth super-featherweight champion, puts me through my paces.

It's basically "white-collar" boxing and that means only my face could really get hurt. But Ian claims I don't get hit much because I simply run away from the punches.

Perhaps that's not a bad thing because he wants me to keep my looks - he says that helps bring in the female fans.

So far I've had two fights - a win and a draw - and I'm on the bill for the World Celebrity qualifier on June 21 at the Hilton where the winner donates pounds 5000 to charity.

I'm a cruiserweight and there is no doubt boxing has made me a fitter and better footballer. It's tough being a striker in the juniors and I'm a match physically for any defender.

So Budgie might not like me fighting but I've scored five goals in my last five starts and feel I'm improving all the time.

Nerves And if Walter Smith makes me an offer I'll be quite happy to quit the ring.

I'm a big Rangers fan and it will be a great double if they beat Falkirk and we see off Auchinleck.

By the way, girls, I've got to say I'm young but not single and my girlfriend, Siobhan, and son, Christopher, 4, will be cheering me on come Sunday.

With just three days to go to the match the players are beginning to feel the nerves and the town is certainly buzzing.

More than 40 buses are taking fans from Clydebank so we'll have an incredible support.

It's been difficult since the semi-final win with players being left out to avoid injuries during a spell that has seen us pack in a lot of games.

Having avoided being crocked, I then took a sore one from team-mate John Cunningham in training at Dumbarton's ground on Tuesday and my ankle is a bit swollen and bruised.

I was having some treatment when the guys did the Crossbar Challenge and they were claiming I'd chickened out.

That was a good laugh with the boys saying their name and positions into a camera before having a go.

Mark Maxwell claimed he was David Hasselhoff, lifeguard, but he hasn't got the physique. And Sinky Soutar, who has never netted for us, announced he was a goalscorer. In your dreams, big man.

Not surprisingly he missed but striker Ryan Scobie didn't. He hit the bar and I hear he's after my place in the side.

John Jack's the joker in the pack and he took to throwing balls at Iain Anderson and I as we had our pictures taken for the papers. Maybe a new haircut will help get John published.

Today I'm off for a round of golf at Williamwood and then it's into work at printurmenu.com before the serious preparations start for the game.

I'm thinking about doing up a special menu for the Celtic lads in the side who weren't too happy with last weekend's SPL results.

They could start with waltercress soup and bread dipped in olive loyal followed by a main course of duck a l'orange.

And to finish? A nice bit of blueberry pie perhaps. Get your orders in now, lads.

As told to Paul Jain

CAPTION(S):

FIST COURSE: Bankies star Chris Mackie has to fit football around work at his menu printing company, above, and his other sport, boxing