JOHN FLECK has been honing his fitness ahead of pre-season at Coventry with a little help from Commonwealth lightweight champion Willie Limond.

The duo have been engaged in their own private battle of the sports, as Limond has applied some of his lung-bursting routines to give Fleck an edge before the start of pre-season.

Training out of Barmulloch's Rob Roy Gym they have been engaged in their own private version of the Superstars.

Fleck revealed: "Willie is in great shape right now and obviously with his Commonwealth title fight at Bellahouston, on Friday night, he is as fit as a butcher's dog.

"I wouldn't go so far as to say that we have been doing a pre-pre-season with him but it has been great work.

"When it comes to fitness levels boxers must be right at the top of the tree. I know Willie is 34 but he is in incredible condition and the sprint training that we have been doing has been really tough. But the idea is for me to be going back to Coventry with a bit of an edge on the rest of the lads.

"It has also been great fun and we all push each other."

Modest to a fault, the Commonwealth lightweight champion refused to say who had come out on top. Limond added: "We all push each other and obviously I am giving a few years to John.

"But seriously, the competition has been great and it really makes you dig deep."

Tickets for Limond's Commonwealth lightweight title defence against Mitch Prince, at Bellahouston on Friday, are available from the St Andrew's Sports Club on 0141 810 5700 priced £40 and £50 ringside.