JOE HAM will dedicate his win tonight to the late Boxing Scotland chairman Richard Thomas if he can overcome Latvian featherweight Dmitrijs Gutmans in Glasgow.

Thomas passed away suddenly two weeks ago after suffering a stroke at the age of 45.

The father of two was instrumental in helping forge the careers of many household names while they were amateur fighters under the Boxing Scotland umbrella.

Most famously he played a massive part in propelling the likes of Ham, Charlie Flynn and Josh Taylor into the limelight as part of Team Scotland at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, leading all three fighters to go professional in the sport soon after.

Ham has not forgotten the part Thomas played in helping in his career. And as he prepares to fight Gutmans at the Glasgow City Hotel tonight, the undefeated Glaswegian is ready to remember his old mentor once more in a poignant tribute.

“I had a very good relationship with him, Richard was a cracking guy,” said the 24-year-old.

“When we were in the amateurs he was the guy in charge of sending us all across the world. I owe a lot to him.

“He got us great experience and got us to the Commonwealth Games, I’ll never be able to thank him enough.

“I was so sad to hear he had passed away but when I win this fight I will dedicate it to Richard.”

Ham goes into the home fight, which will be broadcast live on STV Glasgow & Edinburgh, as the massive favourite.

Six wins, four knock outs and no defeats says a lot about the Scot’s talents, especially when he’s up against a 25-year-old who has only won three of his 15 career bouts.

“I’ve stayed undefeated but I’ve also been knocking a lot of people out, so I’ve been making a lot of noise,” said Ham, who will fight on the Ricky Burns undercard at the SSE Hydro on May 28.

“It’s about keeping my feet on the ground, my eyes on the prize and slowly but surely I’ll get to the top.

“I feel confident against anyone. What’s going to be is going to be.”?