Bumper boxing show for Mansfield on Saturday

Promoted by Body and Soul gym owner Roger Brotherhood, there will be 18 semi-pro fights, including three titanic title clashes scheduled on the big fight bill - and there could yet be more with matchmaking still taking place.

The majority of the night’s bouts feature the best boxers from the Body and Soul gym, who have trained several times a week in gym in Handley Arcade to ready themselves for their fights.

Mansfield’s Steve Ward, recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s oldest active professional boxer, again features following his knock-out win in his last top of the bill fight in September which was a cruiserweight British Masters title eliminator.

Ward (58), who represents Team Body and Soul, was initially down to face his rival Darren ‘Snowy’ Snow from Fighting Fit for the Masters belt on this show but will now face a top opponent from Poland.

Roger explained: “This show promises to be the best yet. All the fighters have been training extremely hard.

“Our planned headline fight has been altered slightly as Darren Snow has been offered a title fight at heavyweight and it was too good an opportunity to turn down, but Darren will be meeting Ward for all the belts in February if they both win, so the stakes are high.”

“This time Steve fights for the Masters title against a top opponent who was a former amateur boxing champion and an undefeated professional. It’ll be a great fight.”

Former professional boxer Robin Reid, a world champion at super-middleweight, is the guest of honour on the night and will judge the title fights.

Reid, known as ‘The Grim Reaper’, boxed at the highest level in his career going head-to-head with the world’s best fighters including British greats Joe Calzaghe and Carl Froch in an illustrious 51-fight career.

Saturday’s three-course dinner show at the Civic Centre features an auction of sporting memorabilia and is hosted by a comedy compere. There’s a few tickets remaining and Roger can be contacted at [email protected].

Picture by Nicola Parker.