Eight weeks of preparation, two minutes of madness

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• Amateur boxers recall fight night in front of crowds of 800 baying fans 

 
After eight gruelling weeks of training and abstinence, the 16 Dubai residents and amateur boxers faced their fears in the ring at the third White Collar Fight Night at Habtoor Grand Hotel, Dubai in June.
 
The16 company directors, managers and consultants – male and female – stepped into the ring in front of a capacity audience for the eight bouts which saw blood, sweat and occasionally tears on the night.
 
Each bout consisted of three two-minute rounds, fought under the rigorous rules of White Collar and under the supervision of a professional referee.
 
Mother of two Mieke Quarrie recalls: “It was an incredible night, but it all went incredibly fast. From the moment I stepped into the ring I just didn’t have time to think about tactics and training, so that was mentally difficult. My opponent was taller than me and I was just concentrating on not going down or getting hurt. But afterwards we congratulated each other and have kept in touch ever since.”
 
Opponent Stephanie Hamilton enjoyed every minute of her match against Mieke: “When you get into the ring it’s about pure survival, getting through the bout. But it’s also more than that. It’s about conquering your fear – a fear that you won’t be good enough. I wanted people to say ‘that was a great fight’. My opponent was physically strong, but I have a very good punch and managed to get a few in.”
 
For Dragons rugby player Sam Boutros his opponent Billy Asma from the rival Hurricanes club in Dubai added extra spice to the evening. “Yeah, it was pitched as a bit of a grudge match between the two teams but once you’re in the ring and you’re hit by this big white noise from the crowd and the lights are blazing, you remember about only 15 per cent of what you’ve learned.
 
“I just tried to stay focussed and in the last round I know I’d hurt him with body punches, but it could have gone any way as he was also working me really hard.”
 
He joked: “Would I do it again? You bet! But with a wife and three kids I’d like to keep my marriage together as there’s so much training prior to the fight night.”
 
Even organiser John Mamea-Wilson praised all the amateur fighters who entered the ring on the night: “We decided from the outset that there would be no winners or losers at the gala night. Everyone who completed the eight weeks of hard training, often at the expense of family and friends, and then walked into the ring in front of such a passionate boxing crowd – well everyone’s a winner.”
 
White Collar Boxing originated in the famous Gleasons Gym New York in 1988. The first contest was held between Dr Richard Novak, an attorney and veterinarian, and Dr David Lawrence, a PhD in English literature. After the contest the two went to dinner to celebrate the birth of a new sport.

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