THIS journey to the brink of history has been a long one for Stephen Lavelle and a fair part of it has had to be conducted on borrowed wheels.

Years spent putting boxing before his trade as a joiner have left him so short of expendable income that he can no longer afford to run his own car and has to depend on his parents, Isabel and Stephen senior, with whom he still lives, handing him their keys whenever he has to go somewhere in a hurry.

The 23-year-old is going somewhere in a hurry now all right. A terrific points win over Amritpreet Singh of India in the quarter-finals of the 91kg division has guaranteed him a bronze medal and set up a meeting with the hard-punching Kiwi, David Light, in the last four tomorrow evening.

Lavelle believes he can be the first heavyweight to bring home gold for Scotland since the first Commonwealth Games in 1930. However, this is not just about personal gain. The Glaswegian is equally determined to be part of a squad that beats the nation's previous best of two gold medals in competition.

Scotland has emerged with two champions from the ring on four occasions - in 1950, 1954, 1958 and 1962 - but hopes are high of at least bettering that with four fighters entering the semi-finals in the shape of Lavelle, Josh Taylor (light-welterweight), Reece McFadden (flyweight) and Charlie Flynn (lightweight).

"I definitely think we could break the barrier of two gold medals," stated Lavelle. "We can do something fantastic here.

"Reece set the bar so high with that win over Andrew Selby and then beating Team GB's Charlie Edwards. The rest of us said there and then that we needed to raise our game and he gave us a great vibe.

"I have been watching [Light] and believe I will beat him. We fought in the Golden Gloves in Serbia two years ago in my first senior international and he beat me fair and square, but I have come on a lot since then.

"I have made massive sacrifices to get here. There have been times where I have had to stop work and my parents have given me money. I couldn't afford to run my own car because I didn't know when I was going to be working and I use theirs. I can't thank my family enough and I love them."

Lavelle's unanimous win over a tall opponent intent on spoiling did not come without some cost, though. The cut below his left eyebrow, sustained in his opening contest against Kody Davies of Wales, was reopened in the first round, although team officials are sure the repair work performed will satisfy the tournament's medical officials.

"The eye's a bit of a concern, but it won't stop me in my next fight, which I'll be winning as well," stated Lavelle. "They have been able to put a stitch under the skin and a few butterfly stitches on top."

Concerns over cuts and swellings destroying fighters' chances, after the international ban on headguards, were expressed pre-tournament by the 1998 Commonwealth featherweight champion, Alex Arthur, within the pages of Herald Sport.

Yesterday morning, the Australian welterweight Daniel Lewis was ruled out of his proposed quarter-final against Mandeep Jangra of India after doctors examined a cut suffered in his last-16 contest and he made his views on the issue crystal clear.

"Bring the headgear back 100%," said Lewis. "When you have to fight five times in a week, this s*** ruins people's dreams."

Lavelle insists he doesn't make the rules over headguards and has little option but to "get on with it".

He also had time to offer his commiserations to his friend and team-mate Joe Ham, who saw his campaign at bantamweight ended by Qais Ashfaq of England at the quarter-final stage.

Ham's father, Joe senior, trains Lavelle at his club in Glasgow's Gorbals. There was never any sign of Joe junior getting the result he wanted, though, with Ashfaq keeping him at distance and winning the favour of all three judges with sharper, more accurate work.

"The better man won, but I will be back stronger," said Ham, who plans to turn professional. "I normally come on stronger the longer the fight goes on and you will see a different fighter in the professional ranks."

Aqeel Ahmed's adventure at light-flyweight also came to a halt with a courageous display against the world No.3, Devendro Laishram of India.

The Motherwell boxer was floored by an explosive left hook at the end of the second round lost to a unanimous decision.

"I went out on my shield," said Ahmed. "I didn't go in there just to survive and that is the first time I have ever been put down."