THOSE of us who were fortunate enough to witness Pat Clinton's coronation as world flyweight champion 25 years ago will never forget the night Glasgow got behind the boy from Croy.

But at least some of Clinton's recollections of the occasion when he ended Mexican Isidro Perez's reign are hazy.

Indeed, his entry into the ring at the Kelvin Hall on March 18, 1992 and the opening exchanges are largely a blur in his memory of the greatest moment of his career.

The rest he can recall with clarity. But Clinton has wondered over the years what effect the emotion generated by the capacity 2500 crowd might have had on his performance, given how deep he had to dig to grind out a win, by dint of a split decision.

"When I was walking to the ring there was an incredible atmosphere and it hit me like a sucker punch," he recalled yesterday. "I don't remember Ronnie Browne of the Corries singing Flower of Scotland or the fight even starting. In fact, it felt like I was going through the motions to begin with.

"It was only when he landed with a jab that I thought to myself, 'My God this has started, I better get my finger out.'

"It turned out to be my hardest fight, but the whole night passed very quickly and it was only a week or so later when I sat down and watched the fight over that I fully took in what I had achieved."

In attaining legendary status, Clinton joined compatriots Benny Lynch, Jackie Paterson and Walter McGowan in the pantheon of Scottish flyweight ring greats in only his 20th professional fight.

But he may not have prevailed but for a masterstroke perpetrated by his elder brother Michael in an effort to inject renewed passion in his sibling.

Perez, who was having his 60th bout and fifth defence of the title, was ahead on points after scoring with telling left hooks in the early and middle rounds as the challenger back-pedalled.

The situation called for desperate measures and Michael, assisting trainer John McDermott, had come prepared for such an eventuality.

While he challenger sat on his stool prior to the 10th round, Michael suddenly produced photographs of the brothers' late father Bill and Clinton's 14 month old son Sean in an effort to change the 27-year-old's mindset.

Clinton was instantly galvanised into action by the sight of those closest to him and after finding his self-belief dominated the 10th round before putting everything into the closing six minutes to nick the verdict.

He recalled: "Michael showed me those pictures and told me to go out and win it for them. It was heartbreaking in a way but it also changed the whole night.

"When I was a youngster I wanted to be a jockey but my father encouraged me to dedicate myself to boxing. He had six sons and he sensed that I was the one who was going to achieve something in the fight game so that moment was very emotional.

"I'd had wee lapses in the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth rounds but I came out for the 10th determined to change the direction of the fight. One of the judges later told me that the 10th was the round that won me the title.

"I never bothered to analyse my opponent beforehand, relying instead on my own ability, and Perez was exactly what I expected, a typically tough Mexican who threw punches from all angles. It wasn't text book stuff but he caught me with one or two."

Clinton subsequently made only one successful defence of his title, a unanimous points win over Englishman Danny Porter at the Scottish Exhibition Centre six months later before being dethroned by South African Jake Matlala in May 1993.

But he has no regrets that the journey was a relatively short one. "After I won the title it was very difficult to get self back up again mentally," he explained.

"I remember at the time feeling as if I'd had enough. I started boxing at the age of seven and I was coming up 28 when I won the world title and it was a nightmare trying to make the eight stone flyweight limit.

"Maybe if I had been champion two year earlier at the time when I won the European title while in my prime I would have felt different.

"When my kids were born that was special. But, in a sporting sense winning the world title was the proudest night of my life."

Clinton is also the proud father of a seven month old daughter, Olivia and life is good again for the 52-year-old after he suffered a minor heart attack 13 years ago as the result of a virus.

"I just wish I was able to play more golf," he added. "Unfortunately I suffer from a touch of spondylosis and I have to limit myself to the occasional game, otherwise it knocks me for six.

"But in general I am happy with life. I am back working on the tools at my trade as a joiner and I have no complaints."

Clinton was not the only beneficiary of his success. His manager, Tommy Gilmour also recalled with fondness how the events of March 18 1992 changed his life.

"Pat was my first world champion and it was a huge deal for both of us," he said. "I went from strength to strength as a promoter and manager after that and have never looked back."