NOW that the British Boxing Board of Control have deprived Scotland of their only British champion - they stripped injured Drew Docherty of his bantamweight crown - the obvious question is who will be the next Scot to have a Lonsdale Belt wrapped around his waist.

Docherty is not a bitter man. In fact, the boxer from Condorrat is one of the most modest and courteous people in the tough old game.

He is, however, deeply disappointed that he has become the latest victim of boxing politics, despite the Board being well aware that he has been ordered by a specialist to stop training because of a bad knee injury.

He was scheduled to meet Commonwealth champion Paul Lloyd at Chester tonight, with both titles at stake. Instead, he will look on while Lloyd meets Francis Ampofo, of London, a likeable enough little man, but one who has had only a handful of low-key fights in recent years.

Docherty, who was the longest reigning British title holder, has the consolation of knowing that he will eventually meet the winner of tonight's fight, but Scotland is badly in need of another boxing hero, another British champion.

Ironically, first up will be Drew's young brother Wilson, who challenges Manchester's unbeaten Michael Brodie for the British and Commonwealth super-bantam titles at Glagow's Kelvin Hall next Saturday night.

The Scot does have a chance, but Brodie is a tough, rugged little battler, and Wilson Docherty is a definite underdog.

Next in line should be Glasgow lightweight Tanveer Ahmed. He should already have fought Holloway's Colin Dunne for the vacant title, but Dunne called off to concentrate on bigger things. Ahmed was then matched with Manchester's Wayne Rigby, but he has also pulled out, saying the money was not right.

I remember Steve Collins, former world super-middleweight champion, telling me: ''There are two ways to get out of a fight you don't fancy. You either say no, or ask for silly money.''

Ahmed will now have a warm-up at the Kelvin Hall next week, while the Board ponders his next opponent for the title. It could be London's Stephen Smith or Monmouth's Gareth Jordan.

Another young Scot on the title trail is Renfrew light-welter Alan McDowall. He meets Birmingham's Paul Denton at the Kelvin Hall and has been promised a shot at new British champion Mark Winters, of Antrim, if he wins.

And let's not forget Bonnyrigg flyweight Keith Knox, who was so cruelly robbed of the title when he fought Mickey Cantwell in London 20 months ago. He then gave current champion Ady Lewis a good fight over 12 rounds and deserves another chance.

Two unbeaten Scots will also have to step up in class in 1988, and it could be a big year in particular for Moodiesburn super-bantam Brian Carr.

He has now served his professional ''apprenticeship'' and it is likely he will be matched with the winner of the Michael Brodie-Wilson Docherty fight.

The other is Barrhead light-welter Mark Breslin, unbeaten in 14 contests. Mark is a classy boxer, who is always superbly fit. His one weakness would appear to be that he is prone to cuts, but 1998 should tell us how good he really is.

Drew Docherty carried his title with dignity and would much rather have lost it in the ring than have it taken from him through no fault of his own.

Before he gets the chance to win it back, I would expect one of the above mentioned fighters to have taken on the role of Scoltland's only British champion.

q THE trade paper Boxing News occasionally produces delightful little free booklets on various aspects of the sport, and the latest issue is no exception.

Where are they Now brings you up to date with the whereabouts and the activities of a couple of hundred famous fighters.

For example, Vito Antuofermo, the former world middleweight champion (he lost the title to Alan Minter), is now a bit-part actor in off-Broadway plays in New York.

Gilles Elbilia, the former Europoean welterweight champion, is a furniture salesman in Paris; Bunny Johnson, the British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion in the mid seventies, has recently completed a law degree at Wolverhampton University; Bobby Chacon, the former world feather and super featherweight champion, now lives on Social Security in America.