A Scottish fight fan has admitted you could have knocked him out with a feather after learning of his nomination to a global boxing Hall of Fame, alongside the greats of the sport.
More than half a century after penning his first record of bouts from around the world, Eric Armit may see his name added to the hallowed corridors bearing those of Ali, Marciano, Foreman, Tyson, Frazier and McGuigan, as well as fellow Scots Ken Buchanan and Benny Lynch.
Selection to New York State’s Canastota International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHoF) would also put the 79-year-old alongside Hugh McIlvanney as the only other Scottish writer to receive the recognition.
The Hall of Fame honours boxers, trainers and other contributors to the sport worldwide – with Sylvester Stallone a recent inductee in recognition of his film character Rocky’s role in popularising the sport.
In 2020, it will also induct women boxers for the first time.
“It blows me away to think I have received a nomination,” said Mr Armit, from Carnoustie, who, over more than 50 years, has written for a host of boxing publications and continues to contribute to websites around the world on a weekly basis.
His records of world, European and Commonwealth ratings have earned him a reputation as an international font of boxing knowledge and he has held positions on official bodies including the World and Commonwealth Boxing Councils.
He also assisted late US Senator John McCain’s research team during the creation of the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act, a federal law aimed at protecting professional boxers financially and medically.
Mr Armit, who spent his career in the oil and gas industry, said: “My first love was football and I had a trial with Stoke City, but a young man I was also buying boxing magazines and out of curiosity I kept records, which from there led on to me writing about the sport.”
He has been a panel member for the Hall of Fame, but admitted to being “blown away” by the personal nomination.
“I had no advance notice so it was only when I began to get emails from boxing people that I realised I had been honoured with a nomination,” he said.
“Being on the list is an unbelievably huge honour.”
If selected, Mr Armit will be invited to New York State in June to be presented with a cast of a fist and a prized Hall of Fame ring.
Having seen and written about so many bouts over more than 50 years, he admits picking a standout fight is a tough choice.
“I got to see all of the big fights in London during my time there, involving some great names such as Chris Finnegan and Johnny Frankham,” he said, the latter having left as big an impression on him as he did on Muhammad Ali – famously flooring him in 1971.