Docherty was from a boxing family, his father Archie boxed and his brother Drew Docherty was a Scottish international boxer.[3] From Condorrat,[4] he was a member of the Croy Miners' Welfare Amateur Boxing Club in Croy, North Lanarkshire.[5]
In March 1986, he won the 1986 Scottish light-flyweight championship at Grangemouth, the same night that brother Drew won the flyweight title.[3] Shortly afterwards Docherty represented the Scottish team[6] at the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland, where he competed in the light-flyweight division[7] He won a bronze medal after a semi-final defeat by Mark Epton of England.[8][9]
Four years later he attended a second Commonwealth Games after selection by the Scottish team[10] at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, New Zealand, where he competed in the bantamweight division.[11]
In 1991 Docherty defeated David Hardie in the Canada Cup, which increased his chances to be selected for the 1992 Summer Olympics but also brought pressure to turn professional.[1] He did eventually turn professional during 1992 and fought in 15 professional bouts.[2]
