South Norfolk martial artist Richard Vince is coming out of retirement to top the bill at the region's first ever White Collar Boxing event.It is being held at the Holiday Inn, beside the airport in Norwich on Saturday evening (April 4).

South Norfolk martial artist Richard Vince is coming out of retirement to top the bill at the region's first ever White Collar Boxing event.

It is being held at the Holiday Inn, beside the airport in Norwich on Saturday evening (April 4).

Bolddog White Collar, based at Metfield & Norwich, and Ultimate Boxing from Lowestoft are the two clubs behind the event.

The clubs have been offering boxing training just for fitness or to compete over the past two years, and now feel the time is right to bring an event of this kind to the region.

Vince, who runs the Black Belt Academy based in Diss and Harleston, will be fighting ex-amateur boxer, Mark Turner, 34 from Norwich.

Vince, 48, has shared the ring in his kickboxing days with the likes of Vitali Klitschko the current World Heavyweight Champion and Julius Francis who fought Mike Tyson.

He will be making his return to the ring after initially retiring over 15 years ago.

Vince is very excited about the forthcoming event, saying, 'The fight has given me a new focus and a reason to train hard and push back the boundaries for what's expected of people at my age.

'Although, at times I have found the training hard compared to what it used to be, the feeling of achievement and wellbeing afterwards completely outweighs it!'

Also boxing on the event will be Bolddog Company Director, Andy Godbold fighting Ike Ekuba from East Ham on London. Andy first started boxing almost 14 years ago as one of the sports skills needed to become a professional stuntman. He took up boxing once again about two years ago, and has been back actively competing ever since.

White Collar boxing has already fully established itself in London, and it has been thriving in the USA for over a decade now - The story has it that some years ago two Wall Street business types who both fancied themselves as fighters had a bet on who would be still standing if they went three rounds in the ring at the local boxing gym.

They employed trainers and set about preparing for this showdown. They finally got it on at Gleasons Gym in New York in front of a big crowd of colleagues and friends, and it was from that night on that White Collar Boxing was born.

White Collar Boxing is ideal for the people who discover boxing later in life and are no longer eligible for the Amateur boxing or Professional Associations.

It is for those that still have the desire and determination to train hard enough to compete or just to keep fit.

White Collar Boxing also gives the opportunity for those that have boxed successfully in the amateurs to have a go at boxing again, but be matched with an opponent in similar circumstances. The emphasis is on providing an environment of Wellbeing and Safety, whilst encouraging the competitive edge.

White Collar Boxing is not just for white collar workers - You are welcome to train no matter what your background - male and female.

If you are interested in starting boxing training or martial arts, just for fitness or to fight, please phone Andy on 07766 567007 or visit www.whitecollarboxingclub.com