DUBAI 25 April 2018: White Collar Fight Night is back for its 19th edition – and this year Coward will fight in it.
The highly successful gala evening, which combines a formal black-tie dinner, with live entertainment and up to ten white collar bouts, will take place at the Habtoor Grand Beach Resort & Spa in Jumeirah Beach Residence, Dubai on Friday 4th May 2018.
According to White Collar Boxing promoter, Mark Povey of MJP Events, this May will mark a milestone for the Dubai event that was launched way back in 2006. “We will see our 250th contender get into the ring at White Collar Fight Night XIX. It is incredible to think that so many men and women have donned the gloves and taken part in our events over the years.”
The White Collar Boxing concept, takes novice boxers on a journey, undergoing an intensive eight week training programme and culminating in a three by two minute boxing bout against an equally matched opponent at the gala event in front of their families, friend, colleagues, and 500 plus corporate guests.
The training is once again taking place at Fit Boys Gym in JLT under the watchful eye of gym owner and head coach Milad Saadatifard and his team of highly qualified trainers. “Milad fought at one of our very first White Collar events and has gone on to have more than ten pro and semi-pro fights since then, so he is one of our real success stories. Importantly, he and his team are passionate about boxing and understand what it takes to make it in White Collar,” says Povey.
As always, the contenders are drawn from a wide range of ages, nationalities and professions, and the only qualification for taking part is a commitment to train hard and a desire to become one of the unique group of 250 people who have stepped into the ring.
“To name just a few of this year’s contenders, we have Ibrahim Abdullah who like Milad is using the event as the first step in his career in boxing, and we have business development executive, Lawrence Coward; project manager Stuart Rodgers; business owner Kyle Baker; Paul Littlejohn, a vice president from the aviation industry, and security consultant Andy Joseph,” says Povey.
“And we have guys from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Kuwait, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Britain. This event brings together a truly diverse mix of people and there is a great team spirit amongst the guys who they have trained and sparred together for eight weeks.”