White collar boxing event attracts 1,300
SOME 1,300 people packed in to the KGV Playing Fields on Saturday to see 32 ‘white collar warriors’ do battle in the boxing ring.
The 16 bouts King of the Ring event was organised in association with CL Fitness.
Similar events have previously been held at The Track, St Pierre Park Hotel and Beau Sejour.
Boxers generally have no, or very little experience, and compete after completing a 12-week training programme.
‘It’s a bit of entertainment but its still boxing and safety is paramount,’ said principal organiser Christy Leavey from CL Fitness.
‘The matching has to be fair and we train the people up ourselves.
‘It’s one of the hardest things for people to train for 12 weeks and then get in a boxing ring but once they have done it they enjoy themselves and wonder what they were so nervous about.’
WCW [white collar warrior] belts were given out for a bit of fun and each bout consisted of three rounds of two minutes each.
Boxers have to be over 18 but some were in their 40s.
Top of the bill was a cruiser weight contest in which former Guernsey Rugby Club captain Andy Bailey fought out a draw with James Lesbirel. In the only women’s bout of the night Kayleigh White beat Georgie Smith with a unanimous decision.
Mr Leavey said probably the bout of the night had been former footballer Lee Renouf’s contest with Rob Newton.
The fight went the distance with Renouf the victor by a unanimous decision.
‘Of all the events we’ve had I’ve no doubt that this was the biggest and best yet,’ said Mr Leavey.
He said Liam McKenna had done a great job as MC in winding up what had been a very well-behaved crowd.
Boxing took place between 6pm and 9.30pm and the organisers arranged for buses to take people back to Town or The Bridge, with drop-offs along the way.
