Event organiser Ben Murray talks to the trainee boxers Picture by Richard Wainwright (00686523)

TWENTY hopefuls have ditched their shirts and ties and climbed into the ring in a bid to become amateur boxers for the night.

The group of volunteers this week began their gruelling ten-week training programme to make sure they are literally fighting fit in time for a big gala boxing night in July.

There are 18 fighters and two reserves, all of whom started to be put through their paces this week, with training sessions on Sunday morning and Tuesday evening. They will also be training again this evening.

It will all culminate on 18 July at the Hotel de France before a black-tied crowd of over 500. The gala fight night and private sponsorship for each fighter is expected to raise thousands for local charities, including the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Event organiser Ben Murray, who holds numerous regional boxing titles, came up with the idea while working as a fitness instructor at Fitness First.

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