ST ANDREW'S club supremo Tommy Gilmour has hailed last night's February show as one of the most exciting in recent years.

There were victorious pro debuts for exciting rookie prospects Richard Barkley and Paul McElhinney and a hard fought draw at light- middleweight for Chris Black.

Gilmour said: "Both Richard Barkley and Paul McElhinney were making their professional debuts last night and that is the toughest fight of your life.

"Richard did a great job to win on points against Steve Gethin, who is by comparison vastly experienced and Paul came through against another old pro in Max Seager. I have high hopes for both.

"As for Chris Black his draw with Max Maxwell had everything, so it was a great bill and one of our most exciting in recent times.

"We also raised £7,500 for the Strathcarron Hospice on the night so it was a major success."

Meanwhile, Alex Arthur is in line to meet the winner of next month's showdown between Amir Khan and Marco Antonio Barrera in Manchester.

Former world super-featherweight champion Arthur, who surrendered his WBO crown to Nicky Cook last September, will make his debut at lightweight on a March 27 bill in Glasgow.

Elsewhere, Olympic hero James DeGale is relishing the intensity of turning professional and working with trainer Jim McDonnell.

The 23-year-old middleweight, who won gold in Beijing, will make his pro debut against Georgian fighter Vepkhia Tchilaia a week on Saturday at Birmingham's National Indoor Arena - and he wants to challenge for a world title before 2012 when the Games come to London.

DeGale is hardly short on confidence and wants to become the first British gold medallist to win a world title, with Audley Harrison being a recent high-profile failure after waving goodbye to his amateur status.